Glossary for Autoimmune diseases

• $18p minus syndrome$: A rare chromosomal disorder where a portion of chromosome 18 is missing which is characterized by mental and growth deficiencies, drooping upper eyelid and prominent ears. The type and severity of symptoms is determined by the amount of genetic material that is missing.
• $22q11.2 deletion syndrome$: A rare genetic disorder caused by the absence of a small portion of genetic material. A small section of chromosome 22 is missing at a location called q11.2. Chromosome 22 is one of 23 pairs of chromosomes that exist in humans.
• Addison's Disease: A rare progressive hormonal disorder characterized by insufficient production of certain hormones called adrenal corticosteroids.
• Adolescent conditions: Symptoms that are evident due to puberty
• Allergic Disorders: A group of disorders that a caused by an allergic response to allergens
• Alopecia Areata: A condition involving one or more bald patches on the head. These patches may merge and lead to complete baldness.
• Ankylosing Spondylitis: Inflammation of spinal joints similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
• Antiphospholipid syndrome: An autoimmune disorder characterized by blood clots and pregnancy losses.
• Autoimmune Atherosclerosis: The formation of atherosclerosis through an autoimmune process
• Autoimmune Diabetes Insipidus: Autoimmune disorder leading to diabetes insipidus.
• Autoimmune Endometriosis: An endometriosis that is caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is characterized by an abnormal immune system response which leads to the destruction of red blood cells and hence anemia. The severity of the condition varies depending on the underlying cause e.g. cytomegalovirus, hepatitis, HIV and lupus. The condition may develop gradually or occur suddenly and cause serious symptoms.
• Autoimmune Hemophilia: Hemophilia caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune Hepatitis: Liver inflammation caused due to autoimmune processes where the body's immune system attacks the liver.
• Autoimmune Interstitial Cystitis: Interstitial cystitis caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: An inherited autoimmune condition characterized by proliferation of lymphocytes and autoimmunity against the body's own blood cells resulting in premature death of certain blood cells.
• Autoimmune Myelopathy: A disturbance functionally or pathological change in the spinal cord
• Autoimmune Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle due to the body's own immune system attacking it.
• Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia: Autoimmune disorder causing a lack of blood platelets.
• Autoimmune Urticaria: An itchy rash caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune Vasculitis: A inflammation of the blood vessels caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune eye diseases: Eye disease that is caused by an autoimmune disease
• Autoimmune neuropathies: Nerve diseases from autoimmune damage.
• Autoimmune oophoritis: An autoimmune condition where the body's own immune system attacks the ovaries and causes them to become inflamed. It can lead to ovarian function stopping prematurely.
• Autoimmune orchitis: A inflammation of the testicles caused by an autoimmune reaction
• Autoimmune thyroid diseases: Autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland.
• Autoimmune uveitis: Autoimmune inflammation of the eye's uvea.
• Behcet's Disease: Recurring inflammation of small blood vessels affecting various areas.
• Bizarre medical conditions: Various unusual and unexpected medical disorders
• Bullous Pemphigoid: A chronic skin disorder characterized blistering of the skin which usually occurs on the joints, abdomen, armpit and groin areas.
• Celiac Disease: Digestive intolerance to gluten in the diet.
• Chromosome 22q deletion: A rare genetic disorder where a portion of the genetic material from the long arm of chromosome 22 is missing. The symptoms or severity may vary somewhat between patients.
• Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A rare genetic disorder caused by the absence of a small portion of genetic material. A small section of chromosome 22 is missing at a location called q11.2. Chromosome 22 is one of 23 pairs of chromosomes that exist in humans.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Severe chronic fatigue disorder often following infection.
• Common Variable Immunodeficiency: An immunodeficiency disorder involving low blood gamma globulin levels which results in an increased susceptibility to infections. The condition may be inherited or can be caused by certain drugs (levamisole, hydantoin and carbamazepine).
• Complement component 2 deficiency: A rare disorder where a deficiency of a compound called complement component 2 impairs the bodies ability to fight infection and autoimmune disorders.
• Cough: The noise produced from the sudden expulsion of air from the lungs
• Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.
• Dermatitis herpetiformis: Blistering skin rash of elbows, knees, and buttocks.
• Dermatomyositis: A muscle disease characterized by chronic muscle inflammation resulting in progressive muscle weakness and a characteristic rash.
• Dry Eye: Dry eyes or gritty eye feeling.
• Fever: Elevation of the body temperature above the normal 37 degrees celsius
• Goodpasture syndrome: A rare disease involving inflammation of membranes in the lung and kidneys.
• Graves Disease: is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs) bind to and activate thyrotropin receptors, causing the thyroid gland to grow and the thyroid follicles to increase synthesis of thyroid hormone.
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Rare autoimmune disorder destroying nerve function lead to weakness and paralysis.
• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: Hashimoto thyroiditis is characterized by the destruction of thyroid cells by various cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. Patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis have antibodies to various thyroid antigens, the most frequently detected of which include antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and, to a lesser extent, TSH receptor-blocking antibodies.
• Hyperthyroidism: Too much thyroid hormone production.
• Hypothyroidism: Too little thyroid hormone production.
• IgA nephropathy: A rare disorder where kidney inflammation leads to a build up of the antibody (IgA) in the kidney which results in the characteristic symptom of blood in the urine.
• Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Reduced blood platelets causing visible skin blemishes from bleeding or bruising.
• Immune disorders: Disorders that affect the immune system
• Lupus: Autoimmune disease with numerous effects on various organs and linings.
• Miller Fisher Syndrome: Autoimmune nerve condition.
• Mixed connective tissue disease: A rare disorder of the connective tissue which affects a range of body tissues and organs.
• Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmune attack on spinal nerves causing diverse and varying neural problems.
• Myasthenia Gravis: An autoimmune disorder which interferes with nerve impulses to muscles and hence results in weak, easily fatigued muscles.
• Non-Contagious Diseases: Any disease that is not contagious
• Paraneoplastic Autoimmune Syndromes: A group of symptoms that occur in some individuals that are carriers of cancer
• Pemphigus: A rare group of autoimmune skin disorders where blisters or raw sores develop on the skin and mucous membranes. The bodies immune system destroys proteins the hold skin cells together resulting in blistering. The condition can be life-threatening if untreated.
• Pemphigus Foliaceus: A relatively milder form of the autoimmune skin disorder called pemphigus. Blisters occur on the skin but usually the mucous membranes are unaffected.
• Pemphigus Vulgaris: A severe autoimmune skin disease characterized by blistering of the skin including the mucous membranes inside the mouth and esophagus.
• Pernicious anemia: Pernicious anemia is a blood disorder where the body is unable to use it properly use Vitamin B12 to make red blood cells.
• Polyendocrine deficiency syndrome: Various rare syndromes causing multiple gland-attacking autoimmune diseases.
• Polyendocrine deficiency syndrome type 1: Multi-endocrine syndrome commonly affecting children
• Polyendocrine deficiency syndrome type 2: Multi-endocrine syndrome usually affecting young adults.
• Polygenic diseases: Any diseases that are caused by conditions that affect several different genes
• Possibly Autoimmune Diseases: Diseases that may be autoimmune or have an autoimmune subtype, but it is unclear or controversial.
• Primary Glomerulonephritis: Kidney inflammation from autoimmune causes
• Primary biliary cirrhosis: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic and progressive cholestatic disease of the liver.
• Primary immunodeficiency disorders: A defective immune system not caused by a disease or virus but rather due to a genetic mutation. Many different cells in the body are involved in the body's immune system and thus there are over 100 different primary immunodeficiency disorders. B cells, T cells, natural killer cells and phagocytic cells are some of the cells that make up the immune system. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Primary immunodeficiencies may occur on their own or as part of a syndrome.
• Psoriasis: Chronic skin rash condition, usually red or silver and blistery.
• Psoriatic Arthritis: Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the skin (psoriasis) and joints (arthritis). Psoriatic arthritis is said to be a seronegative spondyloarthropathy and therefore occurs more commonly in patients with tissue type HLA-B27.
• Relapsing Polychondritis: A chronic disease that affects multiple joints resulting in inflammation and degeneration
• Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
• Scleroderma: A rare, progressive connective tissue disorder involving thickening and hardening of the skin and connective tissue. There are a number of forms of scleroderma with some forms being systemic (involving internal organs).
• Sjogren's Syndrome: Autoimmune disease damaging the eye tear ducts and other glands.
• Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia with combined immunodeficiency: A rare syndrome characterized by skeletal abnormalities as well as a poor immune system.
• Stachybotrys chartarum: A toxic black slimy mold that can be found in damp indoor environments. Exposure can occur through the skin, ingestion or inhalation. It can causes conditions such as "sick building syndrome".
• Sympathetic ophthalmitis: Iris and eyeball inflammation as a delayed autoimmune reaction to eye injury
• Thrombocytopenia - chromosome breakage: A very rare inherited disorder characterized by low blood platelets, carcinomas and autoimmunity.
• Thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune: A rare blood disorder where a low number of platelets impairs the bloods ability to clot and results in bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes.
• Tunglang-Savage-Bellman syndrome: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by hearing loss and abnormal salivary gland function.
• Type 1 diabetes: Severe insulin-treated diabetes typically occurring in young people.
• Vitiligo: Skin pigment changes, usually harmless but sometimes embarrassing.