Autoimmune Disease is a broad category of related diseases in which the person's immune system attacks the body's own tissue. This occurs when the body's system goes awry and mistakenly attacks the tissues and organs it was designed to protect. Normally the immune system protects the body by responding to invading microorganisms, such as Bacteria and Viruses. It does this by producing antibodies which are special proteins that recognize and destroy the invaders. Autoimmune diseases occur when these autoantibodies attack the body's own cells, tissues and organs. Women are affected three times more often than men. Once a patient develops an autoimmune disease, the odds of developing another are greatly increased. Best of Health to all of you.
