autoimmune disorder is any of a number of conditions in which a person's immune system reacts against the body's own organs or tissues, and the person's immune system produces antibodies to them. An autoimmune disorder is NOT an "immune deficiency". In the case of vitiligo, we believe that the immune system probably sees the person's own pigment cells as foreign bodies, and attacks them, destroying them or weakening them.

The immune system plays a major role in development of joint inflammation and damage, fatigue, and the feeling that you have a chronic viral illness. The immune system is made up of body-protecting cells and antibodies. In normal people, these help to fight off invading infectious agents. In RA, however, something goes awry, and immune system appears to be directed against the person's tissues. Thus, it is called an autoimmune disorder.

From the site: "The cosmetics you put on your face, the carpets you walk on, the plastic bottles you drink from ? all harbor harmful or untested industrial chemicals. Which should you avoid?" From the site: "Scientists have identified a signature metabolic impairment or "biomarker" in autistic children that strongly suggests that these children would be susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury and other toxic chemical exposures (James 2004a).

Some people with dermatomyositis (DM) first notice the signs (for example, rash and weakness) during pregnancy. For patients who already have myositis and become pregnant, the weakness and other symptoms can become worse, or flare, during pregnancy.

Under normal conditions, the immune system protects the human body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms. The immune system also plays an important role in clearing up skin inflammation. However, in certain inflammatory skin disorders such as rosacea, immune cells can do more harm than good. In rosacea, chronic facial flushing and inflammation cause the immune system to become over-reactive.

There is certainly a malfunction in the immune system that takes place in ulcerative colitis. However, immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have shown less effectiveness in treating ulcerative colitis than in treating Crohn's disease.

A malfunction in the immune system is certainly a part of Crohn's disease. This may be an inability to "turn off" the immune system after it "turns on" for an appropriate reason. Or, the immune system may "turn on" for the wrong reason. Immunosuppressive medications used to keep individuals from rejecting transplanted organs have been shown to be effective in treating Crohn's disease. These factors have led many researchers to characterize Crohn's disease as autoimmune.

It means that the disease is caused by a malfunctioning of the immune system of the body - the very system which also protects us from such unpleasant things as bacteria and cancer cells. The immune system works by producing antibodies (also known as immunoglobulins or lymphocytes) which attack and destroy many bad elements in the body, such as virus, bacteria, etc.. The problem is that sometimes this good defense system gets confused and starts attacking good cells.

Yes. First, learn all you can about your illness by reading books, going to lectures and talking to your doctor. Get support from others who also have the illness. The Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association is a good place to look for a support group in your area. In these groups, you can hear how others face the challenges of life and manage their mood and treatment medications. For helpful hints for managing your illness, see Coping With Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar disorder (commonly referred to as manic-depression) is a major affective disorder in which an individual alternates between states of deep depression and extreme euphoria (mania).

ANRED, a national organization for Eating Disorders, supplies lots of information on anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating.

EMS is described as being autoimmune-mediated or by some as autoimmune. It definitely is a disease that involves autoimmunity.

Conventional wisdom believes that Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defense system responds to a "false alarm" and attacks the joints. Different opinions center on which part of the joint is involved. Some believe that the synovium is attacked. Others argue that the collagen is assaulted. None of the argument really matters because the cause of the disease remains unknown to researchers.

Some people have episodes that occur less than nightly with no evidence of dental injury or impairment of psychosocial functioning. And others experience nightly episodes with evidence of mild impairment of psychosocial functioning. Yet others have nightly episodes with evidence of dental injury, tempomandibular (jaw) disorders, other physical injury or moderate or severe impairment of psychosocial functioning.

The term autoimmune disease refers to any one of many conditions where the body's defence mechanisms appear to be attacking its own tissues, almost as though the body had somehow become allergic to part of itself. There are a number of features of Crohn's and colitis that resemble this type of auto-allergic or autoimmune reaction. the favourable response to certain "anti-allergic" drugs such as cortisone.