Immune vs Autoimmune system? | Arthritis Information

What is the difference (if any) between the immune system and the autoimmune system? I have looked on the internet and can't seem to find anything. Seems autoimmune is used only in reference to diseases/disorders. Is it the same as the immune system or a different thing altogether??

Rachel

Hi Rachel...good question! Autoimmunity, although not exactly a 'system', is a response of the immune system when it 'attacks itself' or doesn't recognize the healthy body's components and acts on them. That's why so frequently you will see it refer to diseases. However, there is also 'natural autoimmunity' which helps to develop and refine our immune systems.

For more detailed explanations, try these links:

http://autoimmune.pathology.jhmi.edu/whatisautoimmunity.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoimmunityVery helpful information. Thanks!!

Sunam, that's why I don't buy into this theory. Your defense system suddenly turns on itself and tries to kill you? Your immune system which is built to defend and keep you well decides suddenly one day to go postal on you for no good reason? That's why I am buying into the "germ" theory starting autoimmune and it's your body being overwhelmed by an attacking agent which wins under conventional treatments. But that's all just in my humble opinion. CathyAbout.com is truly one of the most informative websites and has scads and scads of information and explanations relating to all types of arthritis. Hope this helps.

Sunam -

I'm with JSNM - I haven't bought into the 'body mysteriously attacking itself' model. If you want info on the other theory - check out www.roadback.org.

Hugs,

Pip

Just to be clear, I wasn't saying that RA is or isn't an AI disease. Just explaining what AI is....There are conditions which cause women to have miscarriages, many times several months into the pregnancies that until the more recent past, i.e 20 years or less, these women would just "give up" "have to adopt" "unable to carry a baby", whatever.

Turns out, many of them, including myself, have an autoimmune dysfunction of some sort. I have Anti-Phospholipid Antibody syndrome, or Hughes disease, didn't know til after my first born. There are others with TNF issues. Many different ones. Some have to simply take an aspirin, others Heparin, others have to "pack" blood, for antibodies to keep a pregnancy viable til gestation is over.

What they all have in common is that the result of the disease caused their bodies to "turn" on the unborn fetus and the host (mom) themselves. Studies show that women with Hughes are at a high risk for stroke and cardiovascular diseases. What I didn't know was that it could have been and indicator of things to come for me. The wiring in our bodies is odd. Perhaps a bacterium or virus started it all, trauma in some form or another. But the end result is that we all just ended up with a sucky disease.

However an individual chooses to pursue their treatment, obviously up to them and their docs.

Hey Lisa -

You could have written my history - multiple miscarriages, history of stroke/adverse reaction/whatever and CVD runs all thru my family. I still don't by the autoimmune 'body attacking itself' model. There's research out there that people with unexplained miscarriages 'miraculously' maintain a pregnancy after a round of antibiotics. That's how we got my daughter - after my 2nd miscarriage I developed an infection and needed antibiotics, rhogam, and a D & C. She was born 9 months later. LOL

Everything you listed can still be true under the 'infection' theory. These microbes need to alter the body to make it more hospitable to them - and change cellular communications in the process. If your cells can't communicate - you can have all the pregesterone (spelling) in the world - but it the cells don't know what to do with it...that baby isn't implanting.

Same with you...I wish I would have known then what I know now...she would have had brothers and sisters.

Yes, everybody needs to decide where they stand in the RA camp and pursue treatment accordingly. Me...I'm going for the one that offers a hope of permanent remission.

Hugs,

Pip