Unfortunately, autoimmune diseases are currently incurable. The only treatments available to patients consist of symptomatic therapies, the aim of which is to reduce the symptoms in progress.
Brief review of the immune system
The immune system is the defensive barrier of an organism against threats coming from the external environment - such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc. - but also from the inside - such as for example cells that have gone mad (cancer cells) or malfunctioning.
To fulfill its protective functions, the immune system makes use of an "army" of particular cells and glycoproteins: these elements are very effective and aggressive towards anything that represents a potential danger.
The attack on the part of the immune system, against these organs and healthy tissues, involves their damage or their more or less substantial alteration, depending on the case.
In other words, people with autoimmune diseases have an immune system that functions abnormally: instead of attacking only viruses, bacteria, cancer cells, etc., it also recognizes as "enemies" the healthy cells of the organism to which it should provide protection.
This incorrect assessment is a source of damage - sometimes even considerable - or alterations to the organs and tissues involved.
MAIN CONSEQUENCES OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES
Autoimmune diseases can have three main consequences:
- The partial or total destruction of the affected organs and / or tissues;
- Abnormal growth of the affected organs and / or tissues;
- A "functional alteration of the organs and / or tissues involved.
WHICH ORGANS AND WHICH TISSUES?
The organs and tissues affected depend on the type of autoimmune disease in progress.
As you will see, there are some autoimmune diseases that preferably affect the skin, others that affect the joints, still others that involve the thyroid, etc.
- The blood vessels
- The connective tissues
- Endocrine glands such as thyroid or pancreas
- The joints
- The muscles
- Skin
- Red blood cells
EPIDEMIOLOGY
According to the so-called American Association for Autoimmune Diseases (AARDA), US citizens with an autoimmune disease would be more than 50 million: not a few, if you think that, as of 2014, the number of inhabitants in the United States was 318 million. approximately.
Also according to what the AARDA reports, autoimmune diseases tend to have a family recurrence and to affect above all the female population (75% of patients are women!).
Below, the reader can consult descriptions of some of the aforementioned autoimmune diseases.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Premise: in medicine, the term arthritis indicates a generic inflammation of one or more joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a fairly common form of arthritis, with a progressive character, which attacks the joints, first at the level of the synovial membrane and, later, at the level of the cartilage, ligaments and the so-called joint capsule.
Various studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis presents various risk factors; among these, the most important are: a genetic-familial predisposition to the disease, belonging to the female sex, the age between 40 and 60 years, tobacco smoke and coming into contact with some pathogens (in particular herpes virus and Epstein Barr virus).
Rheumatoid arthritis is responsible for inflammatory states even at the non-joint level: in fact, it can also affect the skin, the lympho-glandular system, the respiratory system and the eyes.
SCLERODERMIA
Scleroderma, also known as progressive systemic sclerosis, is a skin disease characterized by abnormal hardening and an equally abnormal thickening of the skin.
In most cases, scleroderma affects the skin on the arms and legs and the skin area around the mouth. More rarely, it also affects the capillaries, arterioles and internal organs of the heart, kidneys, intestines and lungs.
When progressive systemic sclerosis also involves internal organs, it can have very serious consequences, including death of the patient.
According to some researchers, the condition is an autoimmune disease with a genetic basis.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and disabling disease, which arises as a result of a progressive degradation of myelin belonging to the neurons of the central nervous system (N.B: the central nervous system, or CNS, includes the brain and spinal cord).
The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be mild or severe. Clinical manifestations that are considered mild are, for example, numbness of the limbs and tremors; conversely, examples of serious disorders are paralysis of the limbs or loss of vision.
To explain the possible triggering causes, the researchers hypothesized that multiple sclerosis is the result not only of an "alteration of the immune system, but also of a combination of environmental, genetic and infectious factors.
PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic-relapsing inflammatory skin disease, non-contagious, whose presence is characterized by a "hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes and the formation of reddish patches / plaques on various areas of the body, including in particular: the knees, elbows, hands, scalp and feet.
According to a widespread medical classification, there are at least 5 types of psoriasis: plaque psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, inverse psoriasis, erythrodermal psoriasis and pustular psoriasis.
By studying the disease, doctors and researchers have noticed that blood relatives (children, grandchildren, siblings, etc.) of people with psoriasis have a particular predisposition to develop the same disorder sooner or later. This has led experts to think that psoriasis has a family-genetic basis.
SYSTEMIC LUPUS erythematous
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of a multisystem nature.
Multisystem means that it affects different organs and tissues of the body.
The organs and tissues of the human body affected by systemic lupus erythematosus include: the skin, joints, kidneys and brain.
ADDISON'S DISEASE
Addison's disease is a rare morbid condition that originates from a dysfunction of the adrenal (or adrenal) glands. Located just above the kidneys, healthy adrenal glands produce three types of hormones in their cortical portion: androgens, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
Typically, Addison's disease causes: weight loss, lack of appetite, muscle weakness, and chronic fatigue.
CELIAC DISEASE
Celiac disease is a "disease characterized by an adverse reaction to gluten, a protein found in many cereals.
To carry out this adverse reaction is the immune system, which, with its cells and its glycoproteins, attacks the gluten when it reaches the intestine.
The immune attack of gluten in the intestine leads to the deterioration of the intestinal walls
DERMATOMYOSITIS
Dermatomyositis is a chronic inflammatory disease of connective tissues characterized by skin (rash) and muscle (weakness, pain and atrophy) symptoms.
At an advanced stage, dermatomyositis can also affect the striated muscles of the heart and the smooth muscles of the digestive, circulatory and respiratory systems, seriously endangering the lives of affected people.
HASHIMOTO'S THYROIDITIS
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the thyroid gland, which is the butterfly-shaped gland located in the anterior region of the neck and secretes thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and calcitonin.
At the time of its onset, Hashimoto's thyroiditis determines a form of hyperthyroidism. Then, at a later stage, it is responsible for a state of chronic hypothyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism: it is that thyroid dysfunction due to which the thyroid is very productive, in terms of hormonal secretion.
Hypothyroidism: it is when the thyroid produces insufficient quantities of thyroid hormones to satisfy the needs of the organism.
REACTIVE ARTHRITIS
Reactive arthritis is an inflammation of the joints of the human body with a double origin: autoimmune and infectious.
According to various scientific studies, the infectious origin of reactive arthritis is attributed to bacteria: chlamydia, salmonella, shigella, yersinia and campylobacter.
In addition to the joints, reactive arthritis can also affect the eyes and urethra, causing conjunctivitis and urethritis, respectively.
When reactive arthritis also affects the eyes and urethra, it takes the more correct name of Reiter's syndrome.
GRAVES DISEASE
Graves' disease, also known as Basedow's disease, is a leading cause of primary hyperthyroidism.
Doctors define hyperthyroidism following a dysfunction that originates directly in the thyroid as primitive.
PERNICIOUS ANEMIA
Premise: in medicine, the term anemia indicates the lack of red blood cells, due to an "insufficient or inadequate synthesis of the latter".
Pernicious anemia is a morbid condition resulting from the attack, by the cells of the immune system, of a fundamental factor for the formation of red blood cells. The factor in question is the so-called intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach and essential for the absorption of vitamin B12.
As it is easy to understand, the aggression against the intrinsic factor determines its destruction. This prevents the absorption of vitamin B12, which is essential for the synthesis (therefore also the renewal) of red blood cells.
PERIODS OF REMISSION AND SUDDEN SYMPTOMATIC FLAMES
Quite frequently, autoimmune diseases alternate periods of apparent remission - in which the patient seems to be well, almost cured - to periods characterized by intense and sudden symptomatic flare-ups - in which the patient complains of very intense symptoms that severely affect the quality of life. .
. Antibodies are those glycoproteins of the immune system that have been talked about on several occasions in this article.Investigations on antibodies are used by the doctor to understand if there are elements of the immune system that act against the organs and tissues of the organism that they should defend;
Doctors prescribe them with the ultimate aim of mitigating the damage that the cells and glycoproteins of the immune system cause to various organs and tissues in the human body.
NATURAL REMEDIES
Among the natural remedies that seem to act against the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, they deserve a particular mention:
- The adoption of a balanced and healthy diet;
- Regular exercise;
- Observation of a rest period;
- Taking vitamin supplements;
- Anti-stress therapies;
- Reduced sun exposure;
- Avoid coming into contact with anything that could, in some way, trigger the appearance of symptoms. This advice is particularly suitable for those autoimmune diseases characterized by skin rash.
