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What is Autoimmunity?
What Kinds of Problems Occur?
What is the Diagnosis Process?
When viruses and bacteria attack your body, your
immune system works to seek and destroy the
invaders. But if things don’t go right, the same
process can harm you. Immune cells can mistakenly
target healthy tissue causing an autoimmune
response that can negatively affect many parts of
your body. This immune response is called autoimmunity.
Autoimmunity can affect almost any organ or body
system. The exact disease that occurs depends on
what part of the body is targeted.
For example:
a) if the skin is attacked, it may result in rashes,
blisters, or color changes
b) if it’s the thyroid gland, the result may be fatigue,
weight gain, chills or muscle aches
c) if the joints are attacked you may have joint pain,
stiffness or loss of function.
Diagnosis can be hard. The path to diagnosis is not
clear and the key is patience. Autoimmune Diseases
often don’t show a clear pattern of symptoms. The
usual process may include:
a) Reviewing family medical history.
b) Asking about recent symptoms.
c) A complete physical exam.
d) Medical tests such as blood tests.
What Causes Autoimmunity?
No one knows why the immune system sometimes
attacks healthy cells. We do know that autoimmune
diseases are not contagious. Most scientists believe
a combination of genes and environmental issues are
involved. It is also generally accepted that there is a
genetic predisposition to autoimmunity within families. However, an autoimmune disease won’t be
activated until some environmental factor “triggers”
the immune system. Such “triggers” may include the
sun, infections, drugs, unusual body stress, or
hormonal changes.
Because autoimmune diseases can strike most organs
or body systems, it helps to think of your body by
systems.
Blood & Blood Vessels
Digestive Tract
Eyes
Glands
Heart
Joints
Kidneys
Lungs
Muscles
Nerves & Brain
Skin
What Treatments are Used?
Relieving Symptoms
Relieving symptoms may be as simple as taking
a drug for pain relief or as complicated as surgery.
Preserving Organ Function
When autoimmune disease threatens organs, treatment to alleviate damage may be needed; such as
insulin injections for type 1 diabetes or drugs to reduce
an inflamed kidney with lupus.
Targeting Disease Mechanisms
Drugs may be used to target the source of the problems. This may include suppressing the immune
system that is causing the disease.
Reinforcing the Immune System
The immune system is remarkable but not perfect!
We can support a healthy immune system by:
• Eating high fiber fruits and vegetables daily
• Avoiding foods high in processed sugar
• Enjoying regular sit-down meals
• Taking dietary supplements if needed
• Participating in daily exercise
• Rebuilding bodies through rest and sleep
• Avoiding high-stress situations
UNLOCKING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Benaroya Research Institute
at Virginia Mason (BRI) in
Seattle, Washington is a
leader in autoimmune
disease research and is
regularly wins support from
the National Institutes of Health. The foundation of
BRI research is the understanding that many autoimmune diseases share similar mechanisms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
RA is a crippling disease where autoimmunity damages the lining of the joints. BRI scientists have
identified the problem-producing cells and are seeking ways to avert bone damage.
Type-1 Diabetes
This autoimmune form of diabetes causes the
destruction of body cells that produce insulin.
BRI scientists are world leaders in treating T1D and
BRI is the leading Pacific Northwest center for
volunteer clinical trials targeted at finding cures.
Multiple Sclerosis
MS is a devastating autoimmune disease in which the
immune system attacks insulation around the nerves
in the brain. New therapies are designed to treat
immune errors and are quickly moving to clinical trial
success.
These diseases all occur because of errors in
immune function. Breakthroughs are the direct result
of immunology research. New immune therapies in
process at BRI offer new hope to forever reversing
the course of these immune-mediated diseases.
For more information, questions or donations
contact: www.benaroyaresearch.org