immune disorders
Autoimmune Disorders
Introduction
An autoimmune disorder is a malfunction of the body's immune system that causes the body to attack its own tissues. What triggers an autoimmune disorder is not known. Symptoms vary depending on which disorder develops and which part of the body is affected. Several blood tests are often used to check for an autoimmune disorder. Treatment depends on the type of autoimmune disorder and often involves drugs that suppress the activity of the immune system. (See also Overview of Allergic Reactions .) The Overview of the Immune System must first recognize foreign or dangerous substances before it can When certain white blood cells ( B cells and Cells in a person's own tissues also have antigens. But normally, the immune system reacts only to antigens from foreign or dangerous substances, not to antigens from a person's own tissues. However, the immune system sometimes malfunctions, interpreting the body's own tissues as foreign and producing antibodies (called autoantibodies) or immune cells that target and attack particular cells or tissues of the body. This response is called an autoimmune reaction. It results in inflammation and tissue damage. Such effects may constitute an autoimmune disorder, but many people produce such small amounts of autoantibodies that an autoimmune disorder does not occur. Having Testing in the blood does not mean that a person has an autoimmune disorder. There are many autoimmune disorders. Some of the more common autoimmune disorders include Causes , 