From Publishers Weekly
Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis—all these increasingly common illnesses are autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues or nervous system. Equally alarming, as journalist Nakazawa tells us, is researchers’ growing suspicion that autism may be an autoimmune disease, brought on in part by genetic predisposition, exposure of young bodies to man-made chemicals and perhaps viral triggers. Nakazawa (D (more…)

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms usually manifest themselves in the small joints of the feet and fingers, although they can appear in joints in other locations as well, such as the hips and knees. In autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system misfires and turns on healthy cells and tissues — in this case, the synovium or the lining of the joints. Pain and inflammation are the most prominent results of this “friendly fire” by the immune system.

The majority of patients awake to stiff and painful joints in the morning, which can last for an hour or more. A long period of inactivity or rest can also trigger this pain and stiffness. The disease usually affects more than just one joint and appears bilaterally or symmetrically. That is, a person can experience symptoms in the fingers of both her left and right hands or the toes of both her left and right feet. It becomes harder to move the affected joint in its full range of motion, and even the least amount of pressure on it can cause a lot of pain. Also, the skin covering the joint can become red and inflamed, and at times the patient can feel either a tingling sensation or numbness in her skin. A low-grade fever is common among sufferers of this disease.

Small nodules or ‘tophi’ appear under the skin of about 25 percent of people with the disease. These lumps and bumps are about the size of a pea and are usually painless. They are the results of inflammation and scar tissue, and can appear in areas such as the arms, ankles, and elbows. Even though the tophi are not painful, they should not be dismissed because they could indicate other, more serious conditions than rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, meaning it affects not just the joints but many other parts of the body as well. Inflammation can occur in the lungs, giving rise to a condition called pleurisy. Inflammation of glands in the mouth and in the eyes can cause mouth dryness and eye irritation, also called Sjogren’s syndrome. Inflammation can calso occur (though quite rarely) in the blood vessels and the pericardium, or the membrane enclosing the heart. Another complication of rheumatoid arthritis is anemia, where the bone marrow is unable to produce the adequate amount of red blood cells needed to keep it healthy.

The disease does not only affect the body, many of the symptoms manifest themselves in psychological ways as well. For instance, patients complain of a feeling of listlessness or an overall feeling of not being well. This condition is also known by the term malaise. Getting tired easily, a feeling of fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss — these are all rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and contribute greatly to the patient’s perception of a reduction in her quality of life.

It is important to remember that no two persons will have exactly the same symptoms. Just as each person’s bodily make-up and metabolisms are different, so too will rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will become manifest in each individual. Some men and women experience sudden flare-ups of the disease, with the symptoms disappearing after several days or weeks while others will experience continuous pain and swelling for several years. Aside from the constant pain, long-term rheumatoid arthritis that is left untreated will lead to gross deformities and permanent joint damage.

Knowing about the various rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will help each person be aware of what to look out for, especially if she is already predisposed to the disease. It will save the trouble and expense that could result from misdiagnosis and guesswork. A person who presents with one or more of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention so that the progress of the disease can be slowed down or even halted at the earliest possible time.

Review
“…provides valuable information on managing one’s own disorder and lists treatments and possible new ways to alter immune responses.” — New York Times, July 1, 2003″These disorders pose unique treatment challenges, and this up-to-date information provided will be welcome in women’s health collections.” — Library Journal, February 2003…delivers a comprehensive picture of the disease… — Associated Press, 2003 Health & Fitness Book Feature
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Symptoms associated with Sjögren’s are caused by the infiltration of immune-system cells, usually B and T lymphocytes, into the glands responsible for secreting fluid. This condition can affect people of any age, but symptoms usually appear between the ages of 45 and 55. In Sjogren’s syndrome, your immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. Sjögren’s may also cause dryness of other organs, affecting the kidneys, GI tract, blood vessels, lung, liver, pancreas, and the central nervous system. Many patients experience debilitating fatigue and joint pain. Symptoms can plateau, worsen, or go into remission. While some people experience mild symptoms, others suffer debilitating symptoms that greatly impair their quality of life. Virtually all organs may be involved. The disease commonly affects the eyes, mouth, parotid gland, lungs, kidneys, skin, and nervous system. Sjogren’s syndrome can also cause problems in other parts of the body, including the joints, lungs, muscles, kidneys, nerves, thyroid gland, liver, pancreas, stomach and brain.

Sjögren’s occurs in all age groups in both women and men. It is estimated to strike as many as 4 million people in the United States. Sjogren’s Syndrome is also found more commonly in families that have members with other autoimmune illnesses, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune thyroid disease, juvenile diabetes, etc. Sjögren’s syndrome—dryness, fatigue, pain, head and neck complaints, hoarseness, or hearing loss—can also occur as a result of medication use, anxiety and depression, or normal aging. The majority of the patients with Sjögren’s syndrome have symptoms related to diminished lacrimal and salivary gland functions. The initial manifestations may be nonspecific, such as arthralgias, Raynaud’s phenomenon and fatigue, and usually 8 to 10 years elapse from the initial symptoms to the full-blown development of the disease. Patients usually complain of difficulty in eating dry food (like trying to eat crackers without water), inability to speak continuously, oral soreness, changes in tasting and smelling and fissures of the tongue and lips (angular queilitis).

Treatment is generally symptomatic and supportive. Infections are treated with anti-fungal or antibiotic preparations. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) has been helpful for some manifestations of Sjogren’s syndrome. Moisture replacement therapies may ease the symptoms of dryness. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to treat musculoskeletal symptoms. Lacriserts, is used by some to alleviate dry eyes. Two prescription medications, Salagen (pilocarpine hydrochloride) and Evoxac (cevimeline), are available to treat dry mouth.. Serious complications, such as vasculitis, can require immune suppression medications, including cortisone (prednisone and others) and/or azathioprine (Imuran) or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan). Many of these types of agents are available as over-the-counter products including toothpaste, gum, and mouthwash (Biotene). Vitamin E oil has been used with some success. Infections of the mouth and teeth should be addressed as early as possible in order to avoid more severe complications.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a rare group of disorders that can happen at any age. These disorders impact women more frequently than men. Destruction of crimson blood cells by autoantibodies may happen abruptly, or it may produce gradually. In some people, the destruction may stop after a period of time, whereas in other people, it persists and becomes chronic. When the cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is another disease, symptoms of the underlying disease, such as swollen and tender lymph nodes and fever, may dominate. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia can also be induced by several drugs including methyl-dopa and fluarabine. In people with hemolytic anemia, red blood cells have an abnormally short life span. Hemolytic antibodies also may be induced by incompatible blood transfusions and be encountered in isoimmune anemias of newborn piglets, puppies, or foals.

Some folk with autoimmune hemolytic anemia may get no symptoms, particularly when the devastation of crimson blood cells is balmy and develops gradually. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is characterized by a malfunction of the exempt structure that produces autoantibodies, which assault crimson blood cells as if they were substances international to the system. Others have symptoms similar to those that occur with other types of anemia, especially when the destruction is more severe or rapid. When severe or rapid destruction of red blood cells occurs, mild jaundice may also develop. Penicillin, quinine, quinidine, L-dopa, and other agents may cause immune hemolysis. A patient who needs a transfusion but does not show evidence of blood loss or bone marrow suppression may have hemolytic anemia. The onset of the disease may be quite rapid and very serious.

If symptoms are balmy or if devastation of crimson blood cells seems to be slowing on its own, no handling is needed. If crimson blood cubicle devastation is worsening, a corticosteroid drug such as prednisone is normally the best selection for handling. If prednisone does not improve the condition, a splenectomy may be considered. High doses are used at first, followed by a gradual tapering of the dose over many weeks or months. When destruction of red blood cells persists after removal of the spleen or when surgery cannot be performed, immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine, are used. Plasmapheresis, which involves filtering blood to remove antibodies, is occasionally helpful when other treatments fail. Blood transfusions are given with caution, if indicated for severe anemia, because of the potential that blood may not be compatible and may bring on a reaction.

Autoimmune inner ear disease is a rare disease occurring in less than one percent of the 28 million Americans with a hearing loss. Both allergy and traditional autoimmune disease such as ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjoegren’s syndrome, cogan’s disease, ulcerative colitis, wegener’s granulomatosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma can cause or be associated with AIED. The condition has been suggested to be more common in female patients who may or may not have concomitant systemic autoimmune disease than in male patients. Autoimmunity occurs with loss of homeostatic control in the immune system. Host tissues become recognized as foreign and induce damaging vasculitis and fibrosis. Veldman described a continuum of autoimmunity. On one end, organ specific responses with organ specific autoantibodies and T cells produce tissue alteration.

The symptoms of autoimmune inner ear disease are abrupt hearing departure in one ear progressing quickly to the second ear. The hearing departure can advance over weeks or months. Vestibular role may be lost gradually so that intense symptoms do not happen, but patients may produce ataxia and unsteadiness more evident in dark with long-term, multilateral vestibular hypofunction. More experience with the disease has revealed this to be a rare finding and it is not considered a routine occurrence in the syndrome. Outer Ear symptoms that may be attributed to allergy include chronic itching or frequent infections of the ear canal. Meniere’s disease in one or both ears may sometimes be aggravated by allergies. Diagnosis of autoimmune inner ear disease is difficult and is often mistaken for otitis media until the patient develops a loss in the second ear.

There are several protocols for treatment of autoimmune inner ear disease. Treatment goals in autoimmune inner ear disease include improving speech thresholds to levels treatable with hearing aids in severely affected patients and recovery of hearing to near normal levels in those with mild to moderate losses. Most patients with autoimmune inner ear disease respond to the initial treatment of steroids, prednisone, and methotrexate, a chemotherapy agent. Some patients may benefit from the use of hearing aids. In persons with response to steroids, in most cases a chemotherapy type of medication such as cytoxan or will be used over the long term. The medicine can be put right into the inner ear under local anesthesia, or through the use of tiny ear tubes put in place surgically. Not all people respond to steroid therapy the same way. Treatment in some people results in better hearing, or better discrimination or both.

Folic acid deficiency anemia. Folic acid is a member of the vitamin B family. It is used in the production of new red blood cells. Some people do not get enough folic acid in their normal diet, so their bodies are unable to produce enough red blood cells. In other cases, the body may not be able to properly use the folic acid eaten.

Causes

Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia is an acquired disease that occurs when antibodies form against a person’s own red blood cells. In the idiopathic form of this disease, the cause is unknown.

There are other types of immune hemolytic anemias where the cause may result from an underlying disease or medication. Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia accounts for one-half of all immune hemolytic anemias. The onset of the disease may be quite rapid and very serious.

Symptoms

Symptoms in AIHA vary according to the severity of the condition. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, pale skin, weakness, dizziness, confusion, low blood pressure, intolerance to physical activity, enlarged liver, increased heart rate and heart murmur. When RBC destruction is rapid, mild jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes associated with dark urine can occur. If RBC destruction persists for extended periods, the spleen can become enlarged, causing symptoms of abdominal fullness or bloating.

When the cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is another disease, symptoms of the underlying disease, such as swollen and tender lymph nodes and fever, may dominate.

Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia but they do not address the root of the problem. Generally, by undergoing comprehensive natural medicine testing, the reasons the body is producing antibodies against itself can be found. Some of these reasons include sensitivities or allergies to foods, inhalants and chemicals and various infections.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, medications, and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You will most likely be referred to a hematologist.

Tests may include the following:

Extensive blood testing

Urinalysis

Treatment

In cases where symptoms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia are mild, or when the destruction of red blood cells seems to be decreasing on its own, individuals may not require any medical treatment.

However, in cases when anemia is caused by an underlying source, such as mononucleosis or viral medications used to treat mono, treatment will usually involve dealing with this underlying cause. Treatment may also involve taking immune system suppressant drugs such as steroids or gamma globulin to help suppress the system’s attack of red blood cells.

The most frequent course of therapy for AIHA is the administration of high doses of corticosteroids such as prednisone, which have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and immunosupressive action that impairs functions of various components of the immune system. Once the disease is in remission, low dose, intermittent therapy is continued for several months. Some dogs, however, do not respond to corticosteroid treatment and require more potent immunosuppressive drugs that are often combined with corticosteroid treatment. Such drugs include cytotoxic agents such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.

Check out  Lupus Pain Relief for infoHere are some of the natural remedies lupus sufferers have found beneficial. Fish OilLupus causes inflammation, which is largely responsible for the joint pain and stiffness lupus sufferers often experience. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can stop the body from producing the biochemicals that can cause this inflammation. Try adding more fatty fish to your diet. You can also take fish oil supplements.Vinegar and Water SoaksOne of the most bothersome symptoms lupus sufferers experience is pain in their hand joints. We all use our hands to do just about everything, including performing essential, every day tasks. But, when your hands hurt, it can be hard to do much of anything. One way to relieve pain in your hands caused by lupus is to soak them in a vinegar and water bath. Combine warm water and a two or three tablespoons of vinegar in a sink or large bowl, and soak your hands in that mixture for about 10 or 15 minutes. TurmericTurmeric is an Indian spice that contains a compound call curcumin. And curcumin is an antioxidant. Many patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, like lupus, find that taking 400 to 600 about three times a day helps to relieve many of their aches and pains, including joint swelling and stiffness. Also, patients who felt a lupus flare coming on often found that taken curcumin helped to decrease the severity of the flare. It is important to get the proper medical treatment, preferably from a specialist, if you have lupus. Natural cures, however, can help you find even more relief from lupus pain.