- Autoimmune conditions
In autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system mistakenly assaults healthy cells. The immune system is responsible for protecting the body from pathogens such as harmful microbes and viruses. The immune system employs antibodies to combat foreign invaders and maintain the body’s health. In a typical circumstance, antibodies can distinguish between harmful foreign cells and healthy body cells. In the case of an autoimmune disease, however, the immune system is unable to discern the difference and attacks healthy cells.
Some autoimmune disorders affect only a single organ. In the case of type 1 diabetes, for instance, the disease damages the pancreas, whereas systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects the entire body. In the event that nerves are affected by an autoimmune disease, a patient may develop neuropathy. Guillain-Barre syndrome, for instance, is a rapid-onset autoimmune disorder that affects the autonomic nerves.
