A Comprehensive Review on Autoimmune Diseases

Abstract

Abstract: Immunity refers to the inbuilt ability of the organism to resist a particular disease or to be able to protect itself from disease causing microorganisms by preventing its development. Immune system includes WBCs which includes all the neutrophils, lymphocytes including the T-cells, the B-cells & the natural killer cells, all together make up the lymphatic system, antibodies, the spleen, the thymus, the bone marrow; our skin, mucous glands, hair, tears etc. also protect our body. By autoimmunity we understand that it is misallocated response of our immune system when it releases autoantibodies to attack the healthy cells of the body. Scientists have studied a lot about autoimmunity and its disorders. By the end of the 19th century, it was first believed that our immune system has the inability to react against its own body tissue until in 20th century the concept of “horror autotoxicus” was proposed by the German immunologist Paul Ehrlich. The autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system reacts and attacks its own cells in the body as a result of breakdown of immunologic tolerance to auto reactive immune cells. Many times, genetic as well as environmental factors are the key reason for autoimmune diseases. Many kinds of research are going through as to find out the actual cause of autoimmunity; till now no actual or exact cause is known. There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases recognized by our scientists; some of the commonly known autoimmune diseases are: type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many more. With unusual autoimmune diseases, diagnosis may not be done instantly; the patients may suffer years before getting diagnosed properly. Most of the diseases don't have any cure; some even need lifelong treatment to ease the symptoms. The diseases will be discussed in detail in the further sections. Keywords: autoimmunity, immune system, cells, disease, disorder, diabetes, arthritis, lupus, ITP