An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. It is caused when the immune system cannot distinguish between antigens and self tissues. Common autoimmune diseases affect tissues like blood vessels, connective tissues, endocrine glands, joints, muscles, and skin. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Symptoms vary depending on the disease location but often include fatigue, fever, and general illness. Diagnosis involves physical exams, blood tests, and other tests. Treatment aims to reduce symptoms, control the immune response, and maintain the ability to fight disease using immunosuppressive medications.

1. AUTOIMMUNE
DISEASES

2. AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE:
An autoimmune disorder is a condition
that occurs when the immune system
attacks and destroys healthy body
tissue.

3. CAUSES:
 Happens when the immune system can't tell the
difference between healthy body tissue and antigens.
 Immune response will destroys normal body tissues.
This response is a hypersensitivity reaction similar to the
response in allergic conditions.
 In allergies, the immune system reacts to an outside
substance.
 With autoimmune disorders, the immune system reacts
to normal body tissues.

4. An autoimmune disorder may result in:
The destruction of one or more types of
body tissue
Abnormal growth of an organ
Changes in organ function

5. Organs and tissues commonly affected
by autoimmune disorders include:
 Blood vessels
 Connective tissues
 Endocrine glands such as the thyroid or pancreas
 Joints
 Muscles
 Red blood cells
 Skin

6. Examples of autoimmune disorders include:
 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
 Hashimoto's disease

7. SYMPTOMS:
 Symptoms of an autoimmune disease is different
based on the disease and location of the abnormal
immune response.
Symptoms that often occur with autoimmune
diseases include:
 Fatigue
 Fever
 General ill-feeling (malaise)

8. DIAGNOSIS:
The health care provider will do a physical exam.
Signs depend on the type of disease.
Tests that may be done to diagnose an autoimmune
disorder may include:
 Antinuclear antibody tests
 Autoantibody tests
 CBC
 C-reactive protein (CRP)
 Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

9. TREATMENT:
The goals of treatment are to:
 Reduce symptoms
 Control the autoimmune process
 Maintain the body's ability to fight disease
 if the autoimmune disorder affects the blood-may need
blood transfusions.
 Medicines are often prescribed to control or reduce the
immune system's response- called immunosuppressive
medicines.
 Such medicines may include corticosteroids (such as
prednisone) and nonsteroid drugs such as azathioprine,
cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate, sirolimus, or
tacrolimus.

10. THANK
YOU! 