Autoimmune Disease

The immune system exists to protect us from foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. Autoimmune disease occurs, when the immune system mistakes your own cells for these foreign invaders, causing it to attack healthy tissue. This leads to inflammation which causes a variety of symptoms, such as joint pains, skin rash, fatigue, mouth ulcers, hair loss, fevers, and many others. Uncontrolled autoimmune disease may also increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

It is not clear what causes autoimmune disease, however certain medications, or infections may trigger autoimmunity. Risk factors include a family history of autoimmunity, female sex, smoking, and obesity.

Immunologists manage a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to: