Autoimmune Disease

An autoimmune disease is a disorder in which the immune system produces antibodies to an endogenous antigen, with the subsequent injury to the tissues of the body that display this antigen. Although the connective tissues like skin, muscles and joints are susceptible to wear and tear, some people have a tendency for these tissues to undergo degenerative changes that are initiated by inflammatory and immunological mechanisms. Inflammation of the skin and joints, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively, are among the most familiar forms of proinflammatory automimmune disorders, but other types of conditions have been found to have an autoimmune component, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis, diabtetes mellitus, and vitiligo. The modern medical approach of autoimmine disorders rests primarily upon the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. While effective initially, it appears that many of these conditions respond poorly to these drugs over time, and with increased dosages there is an increased risk of iatrogenic effects.