How does an autoimmune disease manifest? Autoimmune diseases - list of diseases

Everyone knows that immunity is our main defender and assistant in the fight against pathogenic microorganisms. But in the human body, not everything is always perfect. Sometimes our “program” malfunctions and triggers a mechanism of self-destruction - then autoimmune diseases develop. You will find a list of such diseases and their symptoms below.

Who is at risk from immune aggression?

Most diseases occur due to external influence. But there are ailments that the body provokes itself, and they are called “autoimmune diseases.” What is this and why does this happen? Their reason is that the immune system suddenly she becomes too sensitive and begins to perceive her cells as foreign and dangerous. Special cells - T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, which are weapons against infections, begin to fight their systems and organs. To put it simply, the body destroys itself.

Such diseases occur quite often in people of all ages. They affect at least 5% of the entire population of our planet. Today, the number of such diseases totals 80 ailments and, according to doctors, this list will continue to grow.

There is evidence that diseases of this type are more often detected in women. It is unknown for what reason, but in men, T-lymphocytes attack the cells of their own body much less often than in the fair sex.

Since the mechanism of origin of such processes is unclear, there are no ways to avoid them. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms early in order to begin treatment. On the list autoimmune diseases enough serious illnesses, threatening not only health, but also life, so we advise you to familiarize yourself with their manifestations very carefully. As a result of immune aggression, any person may suffer specific organ or several at once - then they talk about a systemic disease.

Read also:

Myasthenia: symptoms, causes

Here is a list of the most common diseases of this type with symptoms and the name of the organ that suffers as a result of their development.

Blood:

hemolytic anemia. Weakness, decreased performance, pain in the spleen and liver, yellowness of the sclera and skin;
autoimmune neutropenia. Inflammation in the mouth, nose, paranasal sinuses nose, temperature

Leather:

psoriasis. Dry, red spots that protrude slightly above the surface of the skin and merge with one another;
alopecia. The appearance of areas of baldness;
vasculitis Red rashes, fatigue, constant elevated temperature, pallor, perhaps - constant pain in the abdomen, discharge of pus or blood from the nose;
systemic lupus. Skin lesions that worsen under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, fatigue, pain and stiffness in the joints, difficulty breathing, butterfly erythema on the face, impaired blood flow in the fingers, fever, dry eyes, headache, memory impairment.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases caused by increased or decreased amounts of hormones:

autoimmune thyroiditis. Often there are no symptoms. Signs of hypothyroidism - depressive state, apathy, swelling of the tongue, joint pain, hair loss, slow speech. If thyrotoxicosis develops, mood swings, tachycardia, fragility are noted bone tissue, menstrual irregularities;
Graves' disease. Exophthalmos, hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, muscle hypotonia, difficulty falling asleep;
Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Fatigue, low mood, sensitivity to cold, constipation, throbbing pain in the head, memory loss, infertility.

Liver:

primary cirrhosis (biliary). Jaundice, itchy skin, loss of strength, liver pain;
autoimmune hepatitis. Increased liver size, rashes and yellowing of the skin, nausea, aversion to food, vomiting;
sclerosing cholangitis. Fever, progressive malaise, seizures severe pain V right half abdomen, sudden weight loss, itching of the skin, jaundice, hyperpigmentation.

Joints:

rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation and stiffness of joints, deterioration in general health;
spondyloarthropathy. Stiffness and pain in the joints.

Nervous system:

multiple sclerosis. Speech problems muscle weakness, unstable mood, tingling and numbness, double vision, memory and attention disorders, urination problems, decreased vision;
Guien-Baré syndrome. Increasing weakness in the body, respiratory failure;
Myasthenia Gravis. Shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, extreme fatigue at the end of the day, in the morning it is difficult to open your eyes, nasal voice.

Female reproductive organs:

endometriosis. Pelvic pain and infertility.

Pancreas:

type 1 diabetes mellitus. Weight loss, frequent urination, nausea with vomiting, thirst.

After reviewing this list, it becomes apparent that the symptoms of many autoimmune diseases overlap. If they appear, it is recommended to find good doctor and undergo a full examination.

How are such problems diagnosed and treated?

It is difficult even for a specialist to identify such diseases. To make a diagnosis, a physical examination is performed, a medical history is taken, a blood test is ordered for antibodies, and tissue samples are taken (biopsy). The patient can also receive a referral for X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.

It is not possible to cure an autoimmune disease on your own; the patient needs qualified assistance. Treatment is prescribed narrow specialist, and each illness requires its own strategy. And to support the patient, anti-inflammatory drugs (relieve pain and inflammation), corticosteroids and immunosuppressants (suppress excessive immune activity), analgesics (relieve severe pain) are used. Also used replacement therapy(to replenish the lack of hormones), physiotherapy. Often you have to resort to surgical treatment or autoimmune therapy(plasmopheresis).

Before we begin the story about the origin of autoimmune diseases, let's understand what immunity is. Probably everyone knows that doctors use this word to describe our ability to protect ourselves from diseases. But how does this protection work?

IN bone marrow In humans, special cells are produced - lymphocytes. Immediately after entering the bloodstream, they are considered immature. And the maturation of lymphocytes occurs in two places - the thymus and lymph nodes. Thymus ( thymus) located at the top chest, just behind the sternum ( superior mediastinum), and there are lymph nodes in several parts of our body: in the neck, in armpits, in the groin.

Those lymphocytes that have undergone maturation in the thymus receive the corresponding name - T-lymphocytes. And those that mature in the lymph nodes are called B lymphocytes, from the Latin word “bursa” (bag). Both types of cells are needed to create antibodies - weapons against infections and foreign tissues. The antibody reacts strictly to its corresponding antigen. That is why, having had measles, a child will not receive immunity to mumps, and vice versa.

The point of vaccination is precisely to “introduce” us to the disease by introducing a tiny dose of the pathogen, so that later, during a massive attack, a flow of antibodies will destroy the antigens. But why then, having had a cold from year to year, do we not acquire lasting immunity to it, you ask? Because the infection is constantly mutating. And this is not the only danger to our health - sometimes the lymphocytes themselves begin to behave like an infection and attack their own body. Today we will talk about why this happens and whether it can be dealt with.

What are autoimmune diseases?

As you can guess from the name, autoimmune diseases are diseases provoked by our own immunity. For some reason, white blood cells begin to consider a certain type of cell in our body to be foreign and dangerous. That is why autoimmune diseases are complex, or systemic in nature. Affected immediately whole organ or group of organs. Human body launches, figuratively speaking, a program of self-destruction. Why does this happen, and is it possible to protect yourself from this disaster?

Among the lymphocytes, there is a special “caste” of orderly cells: they are tuned to the protein of the body’s own tissues, and if some part of our cells dangerously changes, gets sick or dies, the orderlies will have to destroy this unnecessary garbage. At first glance, very useful feature, especially considering that special lymphocytes are under strict control of the body. But alas, the situation sometimes develops as if according to the script of an action-packed action movie: everything that can get out of control gets out of control and takes up arms.

The reasons for the uncontrolled reproduction and aggression of lymphocytes can be divided into two types: internal and external.

Internal reasons:

Type I gene mutations, when lymphocytes cease to identify a certain type of cell or organism. Having inherited such genetic baggage from their ancestors, a person with high probability will fall ill with the same autoimmune disease that his closest relatives suffered from. And since the mutation concerns the cells of a specific organ or organ system, it will be, for example, toxic or thyroiditis;

Type II gene mutations, when nurse lymphocytes multiply uncontrollably and cause a systemic autoimmune disease, such as lupus or. Such ailments are almost always hereditary.

External reasons:

Very heavy, lingering infectious diseases, after which immune cells begin to behave inappropriately;

Malicious physical impact from the environment, for example, radiation or solar radiation;

The “cunning” of disease-causing cells that pretend to be very similar to our own, only diseased cells. Lymphocyte nurses cannot figure out who is who, and take up arms against both.

Since autoimmune diseases are so diverse, it is extremely difficult to identify common symptoms for them. But all diseases of this type develop gradually and haunt a person throughout his life. Very often, doctors are at a loss and cannot make a diagnosis, because the symptoms seem erased, or turn out to be characteristic of many other, much more well-known and widespread diseases. But the success of treatment or even saving the patient’s life depends on timely diagnosis: autoimmune diseases can be very dangerous.

Let's look at the symptoms of some of them:

Rheumatoid arthritis affects joints, especially small ones - on the hands. It manifests itself not only in pain, but also in swelling, numbness, a feeling of tightness in the chest and general muscle weakness;

Multiple sclerosis- it's a disease nerve cells, as a result of which a person begins to experience strange tactile sensations, lose sensitivity, and see worse. Sclerosis is accompanied muscle spasms and numbness, as well as memory impairment;

Type 1 diabetes makes a person dependent on insulin for life. And its first symptoms are frequent urination, constant thirst and a voracious appetite;

Vasculitis – a dangerous autoimmune disease that affects the circulatory system. The vessels become fragile, organs and tissues seem to be destroyed and bleed from the inside. The prognosis, alas, is unfavorable, and the symptoms are pronounced, so diagnosis is rarely difficult;

lupus erythematosus called systemic because it harms almost all organs. The patient experiences heart pain, cannot breathe normally, and is constantly tired. Red round spots appear on the skin raised spots irregular shape that itch and become scabby;

Pemphigus is a terrible autoimmune disease, the symptoms of which are huge blisters on the surface of the skin filled with lymph;

Hashimoto's thyroiditis– autoimmune disease thyroid gland. Its symptoms: drowsiness, roughening of the skin, strong increase weight, fear of cold;

Hemolytic anemia is an autoimmune disease in which white blood cells turn against red blood cells. A lack of red blood cells leads to increased fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, ;

Graves' disease is the opposite of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. With her thyroid begins to produce too much of the hormone thyroxine, so the symptoms are opposite: weight loss, heat intolerance, increased nervous excitability;

Myasthenia gravis amazes muscle tissue. As a result, a person is constantly tormented by weakness. They get tired especially quickly eye muscles. Symptoms of myasthenia gravis can be combated with the help of special medications that increase muscle tone;

Scleroderma is a disease of connective tissues, and since such tissues are found almost everywhere in our body, the disease is called systemic, like lupus. Symptoms are very varied: they occur degenerative changes joints, skin, blood vessels and internal organs.

It is important to know! If any person gets worse on vitamins, macro and microelements, amino acids, as well as when using adaptogens (and others) - this is the first sign of autoimmune processes in the body!

The long and sad list of autoimmune diseases would hardly fit entirely in our article. We will name the most common and well-known of them. Based on the type of damage, autoimmune diseases are divided into:

System;

Organ-specific;

Mixed.

Systemic autoimmune diseases include:

Polymyositis;

Sjögren's syndrome;

Antiphospholipid syndrome.

Organ-specific, that is, affecting a specific organ or system of the body, autoimmune diseases include:

Nervous autoimmune diseases - multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Baré syndrome;

Liver and gastrointestinal diseases - biliary, Crohn's disease, cholangitis, autoimmune and celiac disease;

Diseases circulatory system– hemolytic, thrombocytopenic purpura;

Autoimmune kidney diseases - some types of vasculitis, Goodpasture's syndrome, glomerulopathy and glomerulonephritis (a whole group of diseases);

Pulmonary diseases– again, vasculitis with damage to the lungs, as well as fibrosing alveolitis;

Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases

The diagnosis can be made using a special blood test. Doctors know what types of antibodies indicate a particular autoimmune disease. But the problem is that sometimes a person suffers and gets sick long years, before the primary care physician even thinks of referring the patient to the laboratory for testing for autoimmune diseases. If you have strange symptoms, be sure to consult several highly reputable specialists at once. You should not rely on the opinion of one doctor, especially if he doubts the diagnosis and choice of treatment methods.

Autoimmune diseases belong to pathologies that can arise due to a disorder of the immune system. Therefore, the body begins to perceive its own tissues as foreign.

This causes the immune system to begin to fight such tissues and, as a result, they may be damaged. important organs in body. Such diseases may also be called systemic.

Since immune cells are located throughout the body, they should respond only to third-party pathogens, remaining inactive to the cells of “their” owner. Therefore, the main task of the immune system is to correctly distinguish between such cells.

Sometimes the system may malfunction, and therefore it will perceive “its” cells as “strangers”. The system will try to overcome them. This can happen to any person, and therefore similar ailments millions of people around the world are affected.

In other words, an autoimmune disease is a disease when the immune system becomes very active, as a result it cannot perceive its cells in the body and begins to fight them. As a result, such cells are damaged as if they were foreign.

The signs of autoimmune diseases may be the same as when the body is exposed to foreign cells, but the only difference is that the body will produce bodies that are capable of destroying its own cells, and not foreign ones. As a result, not only individual tissue can be damaged, but also the entire body.

And how to treat such a pathology, what autoimmune diseases there are, a list of them will be given below. Outpatient disorder can be cured. To do this, the attending physician must follow certain rules and take certain measures.

Markers of autoimmune diseases can be any. To establish a diagnosis and determine antibodies, you need to donate blood. Also, the body’s reaction to its own cells varies. The body can damage its tissues. These are autoimmune skin diseases or autoimmune blood diseases. Correct diagnosis helps identify autoimmune diseases characteristic symptoms illness and prescribe appropriate therapy. A person may experience the following pathologies:

Deterioration mental abilities. The patient may have difficulty concentrating. His consciousness may be clouded.
Weight loss. The sign is common. It may indicate an earlier onset of the disease. A person can eat as before, but his weight will drop.
Gaining body weight without proper reason.
Pain in muscles or joints.
Decreased sensitivity. Numbness in the extremities may occur.
Disorders in the gastrointestinal tract.
Baldness.

If such symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor. He will make a diagnosis and also prescribe appropriate treatment for the signs that autoimmune diseases have.

Causes of pathology

Lymphocytes, which are present in the blood, are sanitary bodies capable of working with proteins and are aimed at eliminating all other pathogenic formations in the body. They begin to work when body cells die for various reasons.

Lymphocytes also cleanse the body. This is very useful, as with their help you can get rid of many problems. When lymphocytes do not work properly, disturbances occur in the body and autoimmune pathologies begin to appear.

In order for leukocytes to become aggressive both for their own and for other people’s cells, two things are needed. They can be:

External.
Internal.

The first are ailments whose treatment takes a long time. In this case, leukocytes become aggressive towards all bodies. Also external factors can be negative manifestations nature. This is radiation Sun rays and other points. Sometimes pathogenic bodies can masquerade as body cells, and therefore leukocytes no longer know where they are and where they are, and begin to react aggressively to everyone.

Internal causes may be mutations in the body or genes. When a person inherits such a gene, he has a greater risk of getting sick. The mutation can affect entire body systems.

The pathology can also worsen due to the fact that a person, when manifesting negative symptoms is in no hurry to visit the doctor. Sometimes it can also be observed by a doctor, but after a course of therapy there will be no positive results. Therefore, an autoimmune disease can only be determined by a blood test.

This will make it possible to identify antibodies and establish their type. If any unusual symptoms appear, then there is no need to wait. You should immediately go to the doctor and get examined by him. This is the only way to quickly cure the disease.

Diagnosis

This process in this situation is not simple. Each type of immune disorder is different. But the majority of diseases can occur with the same symptoms. Since symptoms may be similar, accurate diagnosis becomes difficult.

To help the doctor make a diagnosis, you need to find out the cause of the ailment yourself. Here you will need to accurately report all the symptoms to the doctor, and you will also need to collect the medical history of all close relatives. It is also important to visit a specialized doctor. For example, if you have a gastrointestinal disorder, you should contact a gastroenterologist. At some points, a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis may be made.

Autoimmune diseases: list of diseases

Regardless of whether the pathologies can be very different, they often occur with the same symptoms:

Temperature.
Fatigue.
Head spinning.
Fainting and others.

Therefore, it is important for the doctor to determine exactly what disease a person has. To do this, there is a list of such ailments, each of which has different symptoms.

Main diseases:

Sjögren's syndrome. Hoarse voice, dry eyes, caries, swollen joints.
Vitiligo. Spots appear on the skin. Also, the mucous membrane in the mouth loses its color.
SLE. Joints and internal organs are affected. Ulcers or baldness may appear. A rash will appear on the skin. Temperature appears.
Biliary type cirrhosis. Bile begins to accumulate in the ducts. May lead to liver dystrophy.
Scleroderma. Swallowing becomes more difficult, the skin becomes thicker and whiter, swelling and constipation.
Myasthenia gravis. The muscles in the body are paralyzed. It is difficult to walk and speech is impaired.
Sclerosis. The brain and nerves suffer. Paralysis and tremors. Sometimes the limbs may become numb.
IBD. The functioning of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, mouth ulcers, weight loss.
Anemia. The number of red blood cells decreases and the load on the myocardium increases.

If such symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Treatment

Can be used to treat pathologies different methods. They will suppress the work of lymphocytes. Diet will also be important here. To do this, you need to consume dietary supplements and fats. There should be fish, fish oil, fish caviar and phospholipids with oils on the table. Doctors can also prescribe medications and recommend management active image life.

Disease Prevention

To do this, you need to constantly maintain your health in good shape and monitor it. It is also important to support the immune system. It is worth visiting the clinic regularly and undergoing examinations there, especially when there is congenital predisposition to such pathologies.

You also need to pay attention to nutrition. It must be correct and balanced. You need to consume fruits, juices and milk. Do not overuse fried or fatty, sweet or salty foods.

To strengthen your immune system you need to:

Eat properly.
Monitor bowel function.
Constantly walk outside.
Rest.
Avoid stress.

You must constantly monitor your health to avoid problems.

Autoimmune diseases, according to various sources, affect approximately 8 to 13% of the population of developed countries, and women are most often affected by these diseases. Autoimmune diseases are among the TOP 10 leading causes of death in women under 65 years of age. The branch of medicine that studies the functioning of the immune system and its disorders (immunology) is still in the process of development, as doctors and researchers learn more about failures and shortcomings in the work of natural protective system body only in case of its malfunction.

Our bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that protect the body from germs, viruses and other pathogens. The immune system is based on a mechanism that is able to distinguish the body's own tissues from foreign ones. Damage to the body can cause the immune system to malfunction, leaving it unable to differentiate between its own tissues and foreign pathogens. When this happens, the body produces autoantibodies that attack normal cells by mistake. At the same time, special cells called regulatory T cells are unable to do their job of maintaining the immune system. The result is an erroneous attack on your organ tissues. own body. This causes autoimmune processes that can affect different parts of the body, causing all kinds of autoimmune diseases, of which there are more than 80.

How common are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases are a leading cause of death and disability. However, some autoimmune diseases are rare, while others, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, affect many people.

Who suffers from autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases can develop in anyone, but the following groups people are susceptible increased risk development of these diseases:

Women childbearing age . Women are much more likely than men to suffer from autoimmune diseases, which often begin during childbearing years.
People with a family history of the disease. Some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis, can be passed on from parents to children. It can also often occur in one family various types autoimmune diseases. Heredity is a risk factor for developing these diseases in people whose ancestors suffered from some type of autoimmune disease, and a combination of genes and factors that can trigger the development of the disease further increases the risk.
People exposed to certain factors. Certain events or impacts environment, may cause or worsen some autoimmune diseases. sunlight, chemical substances(solvents), as well as viral and bacterial infections can trigger the development of many autoimmune diseases.
People of certain races or ethnic groups . Some autoimmune diseases are more common or affect certain groups of people more severely than others. For example, type 1 diabetes is more common in white people. Systemic lupus erythematosus is most severe in African Americans and Hispanics.

Autoimmune diseases: ratio of incidence among women and men

Types of autoimmune diseases and their symptoms

The autoimmune diseases listed below are either more common in women than men or affect many women and men at approximately equal rates.

And although each disease is unique, they can have similar symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness and slight increase body temperature. Symptoms of many autoimmune diseases may come and go and may be mild or severe form. When symptoms go away for a while, it is called remission, after which there may be sudden and severe flare-ups of symptoms.

Alopecia areata

The immune system attacks hair follicles(structures from which hair grows). This disease is usually not a health threat, but it can greatly affect a person's appearance and self-esteem. Symptoms of this autoimmune disease include:

patchy hair loss on the scalp, face, or other areas of your body

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS)

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes problems with the lining of blood vessels, resulting in the formation of blood clots (thrombi) in the arteries or veins. Antiphospholipid syndrome can cause the following symptoms:

formation of blood clots in veins and arteries
multiple miscarriages
lacy mesh red rash on wrists and knees

Autoimmune hepatitis

The immune system attacks and destroys liver cells. This can lead to scarring and lumps in the liver and, in some cases, liver failure. Autoimmune hepatitis causes the following symptoms:

fatigue
liver enlargement
itchy skin
joint pain
stomach pain or upset stomach

Celiac disease (gluten enteropathy)

This autoimmune disease is characterized by the fact that a person suffers from intolerance to gluten, a substance present in wheat, rye and barley, as well as some medicines. When people with celiac disease eat foods that contain gluten, the immune system reacts to damage to the mucous membrane small intestine. Symptoms of celiac disease include:

bloating and pain
diarrhea or constipation
weight loss or gain
fatigue
disruptions in the menstrual cycle
skin rash and itching
infertility or miscarriage

Diabetes mellitus type 1

This autoimmune disease is characterized by your immune system attacking the cells that produce insulin, a hormone needed to control blood sugar levels. As a result, your body cannot produce insulin, without which too much sugar remains in the blood. Too much high level Blood sugar can damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, gums and teeth. But the most serious problem associated with diabetes is heart disease. At diabetes mellitus Type 1 patients may experience the following symptoms:

excessive thirst
frequent urge to urinate
strong feeling of hunger
extreme fatigue
weight loss for no apparent reason
slow healing wounds
dry, itchy skin
decreased sensation in the legs
tingling in the legs
blurry vision

Basedow's disease (Graves' disease)

This autoimmune disease causes the thyroid gland to produce excess amounts of thyroid hormones. Symptoms of Graves' disease include:

insomnia
irritability
weight loss
sensitivity to heat
increased sweating
thin brittle hair
muscle weakness
irregularities in the menstrual cycle
goggle-eyed
shaking hands
sometimes there are no symptoms

Guillain-Barre syndrome

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the nerves that connect your brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body. Damage to the nerves makes it difficult to transmit signals. Among the symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a person may experience the following:

weakness or tingling in the legs that may spread to top part body
in severe cases paralysis may occur

Symptoms often progress relatively quickly, over days or weeks, and often affect both sides of the body.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease)

A disease that damages the thyroid gland, causing the gland to become unable to produce sufficient quantity hormones. Symptoms and signs of autoimmune thyroiditis include:

increased fatigue
weakness
overweight (obesity)
sensitivity to cold
muscle pain
joint stiffness
facial swelling
constipation

Hemolytic anemia

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys red blood cells. In this case, the body is not able to produce new red cells quickly enough. blood cells to satisfy the body's needs. As a result, your body does not receive the oxygen it needs to normal functioning organs, which leads to increased load on the heart, as it must intensively pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Hemolytic anemia causes the following symptoms:

fatigue
dyspnea
dizziness
cold hands or feet
pallor
yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes
heart problems, including heart failure

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (Werlhof's disease)

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are essential for blood clotting. Among the symptoms of this disease, a person may experience the following:

very heavy periods
tiny purple or red spots on the skin that may look like a rash
minor bruising
bleeding from the nose or mouth

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

This autoimmune disease causes chronic inflammation gastrointestinal tract. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the most common forms of IBD. Symptoms of IBD include:

abdominal pain
diarrhea (may be bloody)

Some people also experience the following symptoms:

rectal bleeding
increase in body temperature
weight loss
fatigue
mouth ulcers (Crohn's disease)
painful or difficult bowel movements (with ulcerative colitis)

Inflammatory myopathies

This is a group of diseases that cause muscle inflammation and muscle weakness. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are more common in women than in men. Inflammatory myopathies can cause the following symptoms:

Slowly progressive muscle weakness, starting in the muscles of the lower body. Polymyositis affects the muscles that control movement on both sides of the body. Dermatomyositis causes a skin rash that may be accompanied by muscle weakness.

You may also experience the following symptoms:

fatigue after walking or standing
tripping or falling
difficulty swallowing or breathing

Multiple sclerosis (MS)

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nerves. Damage is applied to the head and spinal cord. A person with MS may experience the following symptoms:

weakness and problems with coordination, balance, speech and walking
paralysis
shaking (tremor)
numbness and tingling in the limbs
symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of each attack

Myasthenia gravis

A disease in which the immune system attacks nerves and muscles throughout the body. A person with myasthenia gravis experiences the following symptoms:

double vision, trouble focusing and drooping eyelids
problems with swallowing, with frequent belching or suffocation
weakness or paralysis
muscles work better after rest
problems holding the head
trouble climbing stairs or lifting things
speech problems

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

In this autoimmune disease, the immune system slowly destroys bile ducts in the liver. Bile is a substance produced in the liver. It passes through the bile ducts to aid digestion. When the channels are destroyed by the immune system, bile accumulates in the liver and causes damage to it. Lesions in the liver harden and leave scars, eventually leading to liver failure. Symptoms of primary biliary cirrhosis include:

fatigue
itchy skin
dry eyes and mouth
yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

Psoriasis

This is an autoimmune disease that causes excess and excessive fast growth new skin cells, causing huge layers of skin cells to accumulate on the surface skin. A person with psoriasis experiences the following symptoms:

dense red patches on the skin covered with scales (usually appear on the head, elbows and knees)
itching and pain, which can negatively affect a person’s performance and impair sleep

A person with psoriasis may also suffer from the following:

A form of arthritis that often affects the joints and ends of the fingers and toes. Back pain can occur if the spine is affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis

This is a disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of joints throughout the body. With rheumatoid arthritis, a person may experience the following symptoms:

pain, stiffness, swelling and deformity of the joints
deterioration in motor function

A person may also have the following symptoms:

fatigue
elevated body temperature
weight loss
eye inflammation
lung diseases
growths under the skin, often on the elbows
anemia

Scleroderma

This is an autoimmune disease that causes abnormal growth connective tissue in the skin and blood vessels. Symptoms of scleroderma are:

fingers and toes turn white, red, or blue due to exposure to heat and cold
pain, stiffness, and swelling of fingers and joints
thickening of the skin
the skin looks shiny on the hands and forearms
facial skin is stretched like a mask
sores on fingers or toes
problems with swallowing
weight loss
diarrhea or constipation
dyspnea

Sjögren's syndrome

This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the tear and salivary glands. With Sjögren's syndrome, a person may experience the following symptoms:

dry eyes
eyes itch
dry mouth, which can lead to ulceration
problems with swallowing
loss of taste
severe dental caries
hoarse voice
fatigue
joint swelling or joint pain
swollen tonsils
cloudy eyes

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, Libman-Sachs disease)

A disease that can damage joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs and other parts of the body. The following symptoms are observed in SLE:

increase in body temperature
weight loss
hair loss
mouth ulcers
fatigue
butterfly-shaped rash on the nose and cheeks
rashes on other parts of the body
painful or swollen joints and muscle pain
sun sensitivity
chest pain
headache, dizziness, seizure, memory problems, or change in behavior

Vitiligo

It is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system destroys the pigment cells in the skin (which give color to the skin). The immune system can also attack tissues in the mouth and nose. Symptoms of vitiligo include:

white patches on sun-exposed areas of the skin or on the armpits, genitals, and rectum
early gray hair
loss of color in the mouth

Are Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Diseases?

Syndrome chronic fatigue(CFS) and fibromyalgia are not autoimmune diseases. But they often have signs of some autoimmune diseases, such as constant fatigue and pain.

CFS can cause extreme fatigue and lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and muscle pain. Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome come and go. The cause of CFS is not known.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain or excessive tenderness in many places throughout the body. These " pain points"are located on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms and legs and are painful when pressing on them. Among other symptoms of fibromyalgia, a person may experience fatigue, trouble sleeping, and morning stiffness joints. Fibromyalgia primarily affects women of childbearing age. However, in in rare cases This disease can also develop in children, older adults and men. The cause of fibromyalgia is not known.

How do I know if I have an autoimmune disease?

Getting a diagnosis can be a long and stressful process. Although each autoimmune disease is unique, many of these diseases have similar symptoms. In addition, many symptoms of autoimmune diseases are very similar to other types of health problems. This makes diagnosis difficult, where it is quite difficult for a doctor to understand whether you really are suffering from an autoimmune disease, or whether it is something else. But if you are experiencing symptoms that bother you greatly, it is extremely important to find the cause of your condition. If you don't get any answers, don't give up. You can take the following steps to help figure out the cause of your symptoms:

Write down a complete family medical history of your loved ones, and then show it to your doctor.
Write down all the symptoms you experience, even if they seem unrelated, and show it to your doctor.
See a specialist who has experience with your most basic symptom. For example, if you have symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, start by visiting a gastroenterologist. If you don't know who to turn to about your problem, start by visiting a therapist.

Diagnosing autoimmune diseases can be quite challenging

Which doctors specialize in treating autoimmune diseases?

Here are some specialists who treat autoimmune diseases and related conditions:

Nephrologist. A doctor who specializes in treating kidney diseases, such as kidney inflammation caused by systemic lupus erythematosus. The kidneys are organs that cleanse the blood and produce urine.
Rheumatologist. A doctor who specializes in treating arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, such as scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Endocrinologist. A doctor who specializes in treating glands internal secretion And hormonal diseases, such as diabetes and thyroid diseases.
Neurologist. A doctor who specializes in treating diseases nervous system such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis.
Hematologist. A doctor who specializes in treating blood disorders, such as some forms of anemia.
Gastroenterologist. A doctor who specializes in treating diseases digestive system, such as inflammatory bowel diseases.
Dermatologist. A doctor who specializes in treating skin, hair, and nail conditions such as psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Physiotherapist. A healthcare worker who uses appropriate types physical activity to help patients suffering from joint stiffness, muscle weakness and limited body movement.
Occupational Therapist. A healthcare professional who can find ways to make a patient's daily activities easier despite pain and other health problems. He can teach a person new ways of managing everyday affairs or the use of special devices. He may also suggest making some changes to your home or workplace.
Speech therapist. A healthcare worker who helps people with speech problems due to autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
Audiologist. A healthcare professional who can help people with hearing problems, including internal ear injuries associated with autoimmune diseases.
Psychologist. A specially trained professional who can help you find ways to cope with your illness. You can work through your feelings of anger, fear, denial and frustration.

Are there medications to treat autoimmune diseases?

There are many types of medications used to treat autoimmune diseases. The type of medicines you need depends on what type of illness you have, how severe it is, and how severe your symptoms are. Treatment is primarily aimed at the following:

Symptom relief. Some people may use medications to relieve minor symptoms. For example, a person may take medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen to relieve pain. With more severe symptoms To help relieve symptoms such as pain, swelling, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, or rash, a person may need prescription medications. In rare cases, the patient may be recommended to undergo surgery.
Replacement therapy. Some autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease, can affect the body's ability to produce substances it needs to function properly. Therefore, if the body is unable to produce certain hormones, recommend hormone replacement therapy, during which a person takes the missing synthetic hormones. Diabetes requires insulin injections to regulate blood sugar levels. Synthetic thyroid hormones restore the level of thyroid hormones in people with decreased activity thyroid gland.
Immune system suppression. Some drugs can suppress the immune system. These drugs can help control the disease process and preserve organ function. For example, these drugs are used to control inflammation in diseased kidneys in people with systemic lupus erythematosus to help keep the kidneys healthy. Medicines treatments used to suppress inflammation include chemotherapy, which is used to treat cancer diseases, but in lower doses, and drugs taken by organ transplant patients to protect against rejection. A class of drugs called anti-TNF drugs block inflammation in some forms of autoimmune arthritis and psoriasis.

New treatments for autoimmune diseases are being studied all the time.

Are there alternative treatments for autoimmune diseases?

Many people at some point in their lives try to use some form of alternative medicine. For example, they resort to using means plant origin, resort to the services of a chiropractor, use acupuncture therapy and hypnosis. We would like to point out that if you suffer from an autoimmune disease, alternative methods treatments may help relieve some of your symptoms. However, research into alternative treatments for autoimmune diseases is limited. In addition, some non-traditional medicinal products may cause health problems or interfere with other drugs' ability to work. If you want to try alternative treatments, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor may direct you to possible benefits and the risks of this type of treatment.

I want to have a child. Can an autoimmune disease cause harm?

Women with autoimmune diseases can have children safely. But there may be some risks for both mother and baby, depending on the type of autoimmune disease and its severity. For example, pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus are at increased risk premature birth and stillbirths. Pregnant women with myasthenia gravis may have symptoms that lead to difficulty breathing during pregnancy. Some women experience relief of symptoms during pregnancy, while others experience worsening symptoms. Additionally, some medications used to treat autoimmune diseases are not safe for use during pregnancy.

If you want to have a baby, talk to your doctor before you start trying to get pregnant. Your doctor may suggest you wait until your illness is in remission or suggest changing your medications first.

Some women with autoimmune diseases may have trouble getting pregnant. This can happen for many reasons. Diagnostics can show whether fertility problems are due to an autoimmune disease or another reason. For some women with an autoimmune disease, special medications may help them become pregnant to improve their fertility.

How can I manage autoimmune disease outbreaks?

Outbreaks of autoimmune diseases can occur suddenly and be very difficult to bear. You may notice that certain factors that cause flare-ups of your disease, such as stress or sun exposure, may make your condition worse. Knowing these factors, you can try to avoid them while undergoing treatment, which will ultimately help prevent or reduce flare-ups. If you have an outbreak, you should contact your doctor immediately.

What else can you do to improve your condition?

If you're living with an autoimmune disease, there are things you can do every day to feel better:

Eat healthy, well-balanced foods. Make sure your diet consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or low content fat from dairy products and a lean source of protein. Limit your intake of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, salt and refined sugar. If you follow the plan healthy eating, you will receive everything you need nutrients from food.
Be physically active. But be careful not to overdo it. Talk to your doctor about what types of physical activity you can do. A gradual increase in loads and a gentle exercise program often has a positive effect on the well-being of people with muscle damage and joint pain. Some types of yoga or Tai Chi exercises can be very beneficial for you.
Get plenty of rest. Rest gives your body's tissues and joints the time they need to recover. Healthy sleep is an excellent remedy helping your body and mind. If you don't get enough sleep and are stressed, your symptoms may get worse. When you don't sleep well, you also can't fight illness effectively. When you are well rested, you can better solve your problems and reduce your risk of developing disease. Most people need at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep every day to feel well-rested.
Reduce your stress levels. Stress and anxiety can cause symptoms of some autoimmune diseases to flare up. Therefore, using ways that can help you simplify your life and cope with daily stress will help you feel better. Meditation, self-hypnosis, visualization and simple methods relaxation techniques can help you reduce stress, control pain, and improve other aspects of life related to your illness. You can learn how to do this through books, audio and video materials or with the help of an instructor, and you can also use the stress relief techniques described on this page -

What are autoimmune diseases? The list of them is very wide and includes about 80 heterogeneous in flow and clinical signs diseases, which, however, are united by a single development mechanism: for reasons still unknown to medicine, the immune system mistakes the cells of its own body for “enemies” and begins to destroy them.

One organ may fall into the attack zone - then we're talking about about the organ-specific form. If two or more organs are affected, then we are dealing with systemic disease. Some of them may occur as systemic manifestations, and without them, for example rheumatoid arthritis. Some diseases are characterized by simultaneous damage different organs, with others, systematicity appears only in case of progression.

These are the most unpredictable diseases: they can arise unexpectedly and also pass spontaneously; appear once in a lifetime and never bother a person again; quickly progress and end fatal... But most often they accept chronic form and require lifelong treatment.

Systemic autoimmune diseases. List

What other systemic autoimmune diseases are there? The list can be continued with such pathologies as:

dermatopolymyositis - severe, rapidly progressing damage to connective tissue involving transverse smooth muscle, skin, and internal organs;
which is characterized by venous thrombosis;
sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease that most often affects the lungs, but also the heart, kidneys, liver, brain, spleen, reproductive and endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract and other organs.

Organ-specific and mixed forms

Organ-specific types include primary myxedema, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis ( diffuse goiter), autoimmune gastritis, pernicious anemia, (adrenal insufficiency), and myasthenia gravis.

From mixed forms Crohn's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, celiac disease, chronic active hepatitis and others should be mentioned.

Autoimmune diseases. List by predominant symptoms

This type of pathology can be divided depending on which organ is predominantly affected. This list includes systemic, mixed, and organ-specific forms.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is based on the clinical picture and lab tests for autoimmune diseases. As a rule, a general, biochemical and immunological blood test is performed.