Understanding the link of Autoimmunity & Rheumatoid Arthritis

Posted on 04. Oct, 2011 by Annie in Arthritis, Diseases & Conditions, Joint Pain

As you know already, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis and an “autoimmune disease”. An autoimmune disease is one where the body’s immune system becomes confused and begins to “attack” the body. In RA, the joints are the target of the immune attack causing swelling, pain, and warmth (inflammation) in the joints resulting in inflammatory arthritis.  When the immune system is confused, it can also attack other parts of the body such as the eyes, lungs, or heart. Fortunately this is rare. The following article will help you better understand the concept of “autoimmunity”.

Defining Autoimmunity (self immunity)

When your body is attacked, perhaps by a virus or germs, your immune system defends you. It sees and kills the germs that might hurt you. However, when the system doesn’t work right, this process can cause harm. Immune cells can mistake your body’s own cells as invaders and attack them. This “friendly fire” can affect almost any part of the body. It can sometimes affect many parts of the body at once. This is known as autoimmunity.

What Causes Autoimmunity?

No one knows why the immune system treats some body parts like germs. We do know that you can’t catch autoimmune diseases from another person. Most scientists think that our genes and things in the environment are involved. This means, if you have a certain gene or combination of genes, you may be at higher risk for autoimmune disease. But you won’t get the disease until something around you turns on your immune system. This may include the sun, infections, drugs, or, in some women, pregnancy.

Autoimmunity can lead to…

Naturally, autoimmunity can affect almost any organ or body system. The exact problem one has with autoimmunity (or its diseases) depends on which tissues are targeted.

For example, if the skin is the target, you may have skin rashes, blisters, or color changes. If it’s the thyroid gland, you may be tired, gain weight, be more sensitive to cold, and have muscle aches. And, finally, if it’s the joints, you may have joint pain, stiffness, and loss of function as is the case in rheumatoid arthritis.

Some common examples of autoimmune diseases and disorders are:

Disorders of joints

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Disorders of Digestive Tract (including the mouth)

• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Crohn’s disease
• Primary bilary cirrhosis
• Scleroderma
• Ulcerative colitis

Disorders of Lungs

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Disorders of Skin

• Alopecia areata
• Pemphigus/pemphigoid
• Psoriasis
• Scleroderma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Vitiligo

Tags: Autoimmunity, pain, Rheumatoid arthritis