Autoimmune diseases are a group of disorders where the body's immune system malfunctions and attacks its own tissues. Depending on the type, an autoimmune disease can affect one or many different types of body tissues and can also cause abnormal organ growth and changes in organ function.
There are as many as 80 different types of autoimmune diseases. Many of them have similar symptoms, which makes them very difficult to diagnose. It’s also possible to have more than one at the same time. Autoimmune diseases usually fluctuate between periods of remission (little or no symptoms) and flare-ups (worsening symptoms). There is no curative therapy for autoimmune diseases, so current treatments focus on relieving symptoms.
Autoimmune disease affects up to 50 million Americans and often runs in families. Approximately 80% of those individuals affected with autoimmune disease are women. African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans tend to have an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease. There is a high frequency of certain HLA genes associated with some autoimmune diseases.
