What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that is characterized by involvement of multiple organs due to the production of antibodies to components of the cell nucleus.1 SLE has an unpredictable course of acute ...
Read More »Sjögren’s Syndrome
What Is Sjögren’s Syndrome? Sjögren’s syndrome is a systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a chronic, progressive course that primarily attacks the lacrimal glands of the eye and the salivary glands of the mouth, which are exocrine glands. Exocrine glands secrete the substances they ...
Read More »Iron Deficiency
What Is Iron? Iron is an essential mineral that is required for normal body function. Almost two-thirds of iron in the body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to tissues. Smaller amounts of ...
Read More »Sarcoidosis
What Is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease characterized by hard granulomas and inflammation of the alveoli in lungs that occurrs in 80% of patients. Alveoli are the tiny one cell thick round structures that are clustered at the ...
Read More »Autoimmune Disorders In Celiac Disease
What Are Autoimmune Disorders? Autoimmune disorders refer to those conditions that involve an abnormal immune attack on the body’s own tissues perpetuated by the production of autoantibodies directed against the body, or “self.” Auto means self. Q: Why does the ...
Read More »Asthma
What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic immune respiratory condition characterized by narrowing and inflammation of the lung airways (large bronchi, bronchial tubes and small bronchioles) in response to an allergen as the trigger or stimulus. As such, asthma occurs ...
Read More »Food Allergy – IgE and Non IgE
What Is Food Allergy? Food allergy is an abnormal immune response to food proteins that may damage the small intestinal lining and produce malabsorption of food. The reaction is usually delayed which makes it difficult to identify the offending food that ...
Read More »Anti-Endomysium Antibodies (EMA) Present In Blood
What Are Anti-Endomysium Antibodies? Anti-endomysium antibodies (EmA) are connective tissue autoantibodies produced in persons who have inherited the genes for celiac disease, an autoimmune disease, and are reacting to gluten in their diet. Autoantibodies are abnormal in that they attack ...
Read More »Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies (tTG) Present In Blood
What Are Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies? Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG) are connective tissue autoantibodies and can be detected in blood samples from affected persons who are reacting to gluten in the diet. Autoantibodies are abnormal because they attack the body’s own ...
Read More »Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndromes
What Are Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndromes? Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) are rare clusterings of two or more endocrine and non-endocrine autoimmune disorders in the same affected person. Polyglandular is somewhat of a misnomer since many of the manifestations of the diseases ...
Read More »Antiphospholipid Syndrome
What Is Antiphospholipid Syndrome? Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease and a blood clotting disorder characterized by these clinical and laboratory criteria: Clinical criteria – recurrent vascular thrombosis (clots in veins/arteries) from hypercoagulability (abnormal excessive clotting) and/or recurrent complications of ...
Read More »Abscess Formation Causing Lung Cavities
What Is Abscess Formation Causing Lung Cavities? Abscess formation and subsequent lung cavities that develop from necrosis (death) of affected lung tissue constitute severe life-threatening respiratory disease of the lung. Q: What is the difference between lung abscess and lung ...
Read More »Dry Eye, Autoimmune (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)
What Is Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca? Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is a distressing autoimmune form of dry eye that causes chronic bilateral dessication (dryness of both eyes) with inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea due to tear abnormality. Little sores develop that cause the symptoms and ...
Read More »Epilepsy (Convulsions)
What Is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a dysfunctional disorder of the brain characterized by recurring seizures also called convulsions. Q: What happens in a seizure? A: During a seizure abnormal electrical discharges occur within the brain. Not all seizures have the same intensity ...
Read More »Erythema Nodosum
What Is Erythema Nodosum? Erythema nodosum is an inflammatory disorder involving the deep dermis layer of skin and subcutaneous fat septa that underlies the skin. It is characterized by eruptions of recurrent or persistent multiple painful, red nodules under the skin that ...
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