As we mentioned in Part 1 - Autoimmune diseases are a group of diseases characterized by a hyperactive immune system that itself destroys and destroys healthy tissues, cells and organs in its own body. You can read what the symptoms and risk factors are in Part 1.
This time we will focus on which are the most common autoimmune diseases and what characterizes each of them.
The most common autoimmune diseases are:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus
- Diseases of the thyroid gland - Graves' disease (Baseda's disease) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Crohn's disease
- Bechterew's disease
- Vitiligo
- Sjögren's syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
- Rosacea
- Addison's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sarcoidosis
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, is one of the two main types of diabetes. It is basically an autoimmune disease.
It is a condition in which the body completely stops producing its own insulin, the hormone responsible for metabolizing blood glucose and converting it into energy. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to keep their metabolism in balance. This form of diabetes is characteristic of childhood and young adulthood, but can also occur in older individuals.
The most common symptoms are the following:
- incessant, strong thirst
- frequent urination
- weight loss
- strong feeling of hunger
- blurred vision
- Irritability
- unexplained, general weakness
- frequent infections in the mouth, urinary tract and on the skin
- slow healing of wounds
It is also possible for diabetes to occur spontaneously, with the first symptom being loss of consciousness as a result of prolonged extremely high blood sugar. This condition and known as diabetic ketoacidosis. The most characteristic symptom is acetone breath. The cause of ketoacidosis is high blood sugar which the body cannot absorb and therefore breaks down its own carbohydrates, proteins and fats to glucose. As a by-product, acetone substances are released, which in turn are highly toxic to the body.
Any person can develop type 1 diabetes. Because it is characteristic of young age, a genetic link has been shown to be stronger.
There are several basic rules that must be strictly followed to achieve the quality of life of non-diabetics. Apart from the specific regimen prescribed by the endocrinologist, other important elements are building eating habits with refinement of the quality, quantity and content of carbohydrates and fats, as well as daily physical activity. With adherence to the established regimens, the quality and length of life is as that of non-diabetics, and in some cases even superior. Although it saves the lives of those suffering from this disease, insulin does not prevent the long-term and insidious aspects of the disease, such as heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, renal complications and retinal disease.
Rheumatoid arthritis
One of the most common autoimmune diseases is rheumatoid arthritis. Those affected by it suffer from cyclic joint pain and swelling. The disease is one of the few in this group against which have a very good treatment. In this disease, the immune system produces more than necessary antibodies that attack the soft tissues of the joints. Diagnosis is by blood test and examination by a rheumatologist. If rheumatoid arthritis is left untreated, there can be serious disability and difficulty in movement.
Psoriasis
It is a chronic inflammatory disease whose symptoms appear mainly on the skin. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends the wrong signals to the body's skin cells, prompting them to divide very quickly. In a healthy person, they renew themselves every 28 days. In a person with psoriasis, this regeneration occurs every 5 - 6 days. These scaly and very itchy red plaques are called squams. They are located all over the body - most often on the arms, torso, knees, feet, nails, face, scalp.
Psoriasis is long-lasting, often relapses and can be completely unpredictable. Symptoms appear suddenly, then the condition improves and the rashes disappear completely (remission). This cycle repeats continuously.
Psoriatic arthritis is a complication caused by psoriasis
About 80 percent of people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis have previously had psoriasis.
With time, this type of arthritis worsens, and the affected joints may be permanently damaged or deformed. The disease manifests itself during crises when symptoms worsen.
Psoriatic arthritis can also result from an infection that activates the immune system. Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis result from an overactive immune system that stops working as it should and starts attacking the body's own tissues with inflammation instead of fighting the infection.
Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joint of the body, most commonly the hands, feet, elbows, knees, spine and neck. Symptoms can be mild and slow to develop, or they can be sudden and very severe.
They can vary and differ:
- stiffness, pain and throbbing in the joints
- fatigue
- tendon pain and swelling
- swollen fingers and toes
- restricted movements
- stiffness and fatigue after sleep
- changes in nails
- redness and pain in the eyes
Lupus
It belongs to rare, chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases that affect mostly young women. The most distinctive sign of lupus - a rash on the face, resembling the wings of a butterfly, which unfolds across both cheeks.
There are two main forms:
- cutaneous lupus erythematosus, when the disease is limited to the skin
- systemic lupus erythematosus when internal organs are affected
Cutaneous lupus is usually localized on the exposed, sun-exposed parts. It covers the cheeks, nose, eyes, neck, décolletage, etc. The rash is well circumscribed and raised. In the course of the disease, dilated blood vessels appear. Symptoms are unpredictable and unexpected, alternating with phases of inflammation and phases of remission.
Systemic lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that arises as immune disorders developing with the involvement of genetic, hormonal and external factors. It belongs to the group of kerlagenoses. Patients are mostly women between 15 and 25 years of age.
The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems - including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Systemic lupus erythematosus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other diseases. Consequently, lupus often goes undetected or misdiagnosed for long periods of time. Yet early diagnosis is important for managing the condition and instituting treatment. Symptoms vary from person to person and can be mild to severe. Painful and swollen joints, fever, chest pain, hair loss, mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, etc. are often seen.
Although there is no cure for lupus, therapy can help control the disease.
The prognosis for lupus varies depending on the organs affected and the severity of the disease. It often involves periods of exacerbation followed by periods of remission. Most people with lupus lead normal lives, especially if they follow the doctor's instructions and prescribed treatment.
The disease has an unclear etiology. Genetics are thought to play a role, along with environmental factors. Some people are born with a tendency to develop lupus, which can be triggered by infections, certain medications or even sunlight. In addition, female sex hormones, smoking and vitamin D deficiency increase the risk.
Regular monitoring and follow-up of the symptomatology leads to the best course of treatment. A multidisciplinary approach by healthcare teams is advisable given the changing nature of the disease and the prevention of future complications.
Graves' disease
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. With this disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid and causes it to overproduce a hormone called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin, more than the body needs. Its hormones control how the body uses energy, so they affect almost every organ.
Signs and symptoms of Graves' disease include: pregnancy problems, weight loss, sleep problems, heart palpitations, thinning and brittle hair, increased sweating, eye problems, etc.
Autoimmune thyroid disease affects women about eight to 10 times more often than men.
The cause of Graves' disease is related to many factors: genetic predisposition, gender, stress, pregnancy and possibly infections.
Risk factors for Graves' disease are associated with other autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison's disease, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, and lupus.
Diagnosis includes tests for thyroid function.
If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause serious problems with the heart, bones, muscles, menstrual cycle and fertility. During pregnancy, untreated hyperthyroidism can cause health problems for the mother and baby. Graves' disease can also affect the eyes and skin.
People with Graves' disease may be sensitive to the harmful side effects of iodine.
The attending physician may recommend tailored and appropriate treatment - pharmacological with antithyroid agents, surgical or radioactive iodine treatment.
Hashimoto
Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease. Immune system cells attack thyroid cells and can damage them. Unlike other thyroid inflammatory processes, this one proceeds without pain and unnoticed. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a disease that results in an inactive thyroid gland and subsequent symptoms. It is the most common form of hypothyroidism, so it is very important to know the causes to prevent it and recognize its symptoms in order to treat it as soon as possible. Unlike other thyroid inflammatory processes, this one proceeds without pain and unnoticed.
The exact cause of the disease is not clear. Stress is a key factor that contributes to changes in thyroid function, and hence Hashimoto's disease. It is possible that the disease is the result of a genetic defect that is unlocked at a particular time. Influenced by a history of viral diseases, intestinal infections, inappropriate diet, sensitivity to certain foods, unhealthy lifestyle, toxins, etc.
Symptoms:
Initially, Hashimoto's disease may not manifest any symptoms. Gradually, the specific ones that accompany thyroid diseases appear - easy fatigability, distractibility, lack of energy, weight gain, memory loss, tightness, sometimes even slight douching in the neck, muscle and joint pain, palpitations, tinnitus, sweating, puffiness, brittle nails, dry and thinning hair, etc.
If you suspect that you have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it is very important to get tested so that you can begin an appropriate treatment regimen.
Regarding thyroid health or other dysfunction, it is important to check TSH values. Hashimoto's diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and results of blood tests that measure TSH levels produced in the pituitary gland. If the gland has reduced function, the hormone level is correspondingly low. When levels are elevated, the thyroid is stimulated to produce more hormone. Clinical investigations may give a prediction of the disease before the first symptoms are even fixed.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis can increase the risk of the following diseases:
- Addison's disease and Graves' disease
- Infertility, ovarian failure, pregnancy complications or
- birth and birth defects of the fetus.
- Type 2 diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Problems with the brain
- Kidney problems
- Neurological impairment
- Mental health disorders such as depression
Medicine is not advanced enough in developing successful treatment methods for Hashimoto's. When hypothyroidism has occurred, L-thyroxine replacement therapy is given. The dose is individualized and optimized in each patient according to his condition and TSH levels.
Above all, there should be no fear of being diagnosed, because with Hashimoto's disease one can live a completely full life.
Crohn's disease
The disease belongs to a group of diseases known as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. It affects the digestive tract.
Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease associated with ulcerative changes. They are located along the entire alimentary canal. The disease is characterised by alternating inflamed and healthy areas along the course of the bowel. The gut loses the ability to resorb nutrients from the food we eat (a condition known as malabsorption). Periods of inflammation and periods of remission are typical of the disease.
It is a lifelong disease that occurs as a result of interactions of genetic and environmental factors. It occurs mainly in developed countries. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis have both many characteristics in common and significant differences. They are similar diseases, but often require different treatment methods. It is crucial that physicians recognize and differentiate. When Crohn's disease is in the active phase, treatment aims to relieve symptoms, control inflammation and compensate for nutrient deficiencies.
Bechterew's disease (ankylosing spondylitis)
Bechterew's disease (ankylosing spondylitis) is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. It is characterized by inflammation of the spine and sacroiliitis - inflammation of the sacroiliac joints. It is characterised by pain and stiffness from the neck to the lower back. What is special about the disease is that there is a fusion of the vertebrae, resulting in a stiff and rigid spine. These changes can be mild or severe and can lead to a stooped position.
Early diagnosis and treatment help control pain and stiffness and can reduce or prevent significant deformity. Adherence to a specific exercise regimen is essential for the patient to preserve joint and organ reserves. It varies according to the general condition and the specific manifestation of the disease. As the activity of the disease increases, the kidneys, nervous system, lungs, cardiovascular system may also be affected.
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a serious autoimmune disease and one of the most common.
Skin colour is due to the pigment melanin. When melanocytes (the cells that produce it) are destroyed for an unknown reason by our immune system, the disease vitiligo develops. The formation of white patches resembling peeling after sunburn begins. They look like a cosmetic blemish, with strange shapes, sometimes itchy, small and well circumscribed at first as they gradually increase in size.
Statistics show that this disease affects on average 1 in every 100 people, regardless of gender and age. It is believed that genetic factors are also responsible for its occurrence, as well as other autoimmune diseases, especially of the thyroid gland. Free radicals, toxins and stress are also involved.
The vitiligo progressed without any symptoms. The darker the skin, the greater the contrast. In some cases the spots are confined to a particular segment of the skin, but more often they have a more generalized distribution, and in more advanced cases they may cover a considerable part of the skin surface. They are observed, even on the scalp, as a grey or white patch of hair, and sometimes a complete depigmentation of the hair.
There are new effective and safe treatment methods that are individualized, give good results and satisfactory repigmentation is achieved. It should be known that the treatment approach for each is very specific and is dictated by the individual patient's therapeutic response.
Sjögren's syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome is a not uncommon rheumatic disease characterized by: dry eyes and chronic conjunctivitis, dry oral mucosa, inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands, joint pain and arthritis, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain. The disease is usually combined with and is part of the clinical picture of other autoimmune rheumatological diseases such as: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, scleroderma, etc. Sjögren's syndrome can less commonly be an independent disease. In a more extensive clinical picture of autoimmune inflammation, other gland-rich organs and systems such as the respiratory and digestive and excretory systems, pancreas, kidneys, thyroid glands, etc. may be involved.
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is caused by an error in the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscles. It occurs when the normal communication between the nerve and the muscle is interrupted at the point where they form what is called the muscle knot where the nerve cells connect to the muscles they control.
In myasthenia gravis, the main character is the thymus gland. It is closely related to immune function and may be responsible for myasthenia gravis.
Symptoms for Myasthenia are:
Disruption of normal communication between nerves and muscles gives weakness in the motor system, double vision (diplopia), drooping eyelids (ptosis), difficulty with speech (dysarthria), chewing, swallowing and breathing. The onset of the disorder can be sudden and symptoms are often not immediately recognised as Myasthenia Gravis. There is clinical evidence that the degree of muscle weakness involved in myasthenia varies considerably from person to person.
Anyone who has the symptoms of Myasthenia Gravis should know that there are treatments that improve the comfort of living.
Rosacea
The characteristic symptoms of rosacea during an attack are small, red, pus-filled pimples on the skin. Most often rosacea affects only the skin of the nose, cheeks and forehead. The disease is cyclical. Symptoms appear for weeks or months, then disappear and return again after a while.
Rosacea often develops in people between the ages of 30 and 50. It is also more common in people with fair skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. There are also genetic links to rosacea - if there is a family history of the condition or, most commonly, Scandinavian genes. Women are also more likely to develop the disease than men. However, men often have more severe symptoms. The cause of rosacea is not fully understood. It may be a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.
It can vary in several types of rosacea.
The more common signs are:
- eye redness
- sensation of grit in the eyes (burning in the eyes)
- dry, itchy eyes
- sensitivity to light
- reduced vision
- dilated blood vessels of the eyelids
- uneven skin texture
- thick skin on the nose
- thick skin on the chin, forehead, cheeks and ears
- enlarged pores
- visible dilated blood vessels and many others
Unfortunately, rosacea cannot be cured outright, but it can be controlled well enough by achieving long periods of remission. Treatment is a combination involving lifestyle changes, avoidance of certain foods and use of quality cosmetics.
Addison's disease
Represents adrenal insufficiency caused by gradual destruction of both adrenal glands is manifested by easy fatigue, general weakness, listlessness, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, skin and pigmentations hypotension and sometimes hypoglycemia, these symptoms occur slowly over time. This disease is rare and occupies about 1% of endocrine diseases.
The disease may proceed suddenly with the development of Addisonian crisis. In the beginning, it may be manifested occasionally, most often provoked by states of stress, but with the progression of adrenal destruction it becomes permanent. Hyperpigmentation may be marked or sometimes absent.
It is most commonly seen as brownish pigmentation on the elbows, lines on the palms of the hands and on normally pigmented areas such as the areolae. Bluish-black streaks may be seen on the mucous membranes. Vitiligo may sometimes be seen. Arterial hypotension and its intensification on moving from the supine to the upright position is commonly seen, and arterial blood pressure values may be 80/50 or lower. Gastrointestinal complaints also signal abnormalities in hormonal studies, urinalysis and blood counts.
In all patients with adrenal insufficiency, specific hormone replacement therapy should be administered. These patients need special education about their disease. The goals of treatment are to correct both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiency.
Multiple sclerosis
Over the years, interest in the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis has grown significantly. This is due to the high social relevance of the disease and is determined by the fact that it mainly affects young people of active age. Recently, there is evidence to show that the disease is not only autoimmune and inflammatory, but also neurodegenerative, leading to the progressive disability of patients.
The processes that are observed in this disease are the following:
Demyelination - a process in which the immune system destroys the myelin sheaths of axons in the white matter of the central nervous system, leading to the formation of so-called demyelination plaques.
Degeneration - degenerative changes occur in the neurons and axons of the central nervous system.
Early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is extremely important. Unfortunately, modern treatment methodologies are not able to stop the development of the disease, but progression can be reduced.
The goal is to delay and reduce patient disability. Treatment differs according to the form of the course and whether the disease is in flare or in remission.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease in which mainly the lung and lymphatic system are affected, but other organs in the body can also be affected - heart, liver, eyes. The disease is most common in people between 20 and 40 years of age.
Symptoms that should raise attention are:
- dry cough
- weight loss
- temperature
- fatigue
For more information, we at Medical Karaj are at your service.
Call us on the following numbers "Medical Karaj": 0879 977 401 or 0879 977 402.
Also keep an eye on our constantly updated Facebook content.
