In brief
When the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. There are around 80 autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
- In Hashimoto's disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
- Many healthy people have low levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and a positive ANA test can also occur with infections, thyroid disorders, some medicines and cancers.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is treated early with disease-modifying medicines (DMARDs).
How it works
An autoimmune disorder happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. A tendency to autoimmune disorders seems to run in families, some are triggered or worsened by particular infections, and sex hormones may be partly responsible. Women are more susceptible than men, particularly during their childbearing years.
Diagnosis can include blood tests that detect autoantibodies. Autoimmune disorders generally cannot be cured, but in many cases they can be controlled. Hashimoto's disease, coeliac disease and rheumatoid arthritis are autoimmune conditions.
Connections
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Autoimmunity can lead to
Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints.
In coeliac disease, the immune system reacts to gluten and damages the small bowel.
Autoimmunity is linked with
Sometimes the immune system mistakenly treats the body's own cells as foreign. This is called an autoimmune response.
Source: InformedHealth.org (IQWiG), NCBI Bookshelf, In brief: How does the immune system work?
Autoimmunity can cause
Type 1 diabetes is usually an autoimmune condition, in which the immune system destroys the cells that make insulin.
Lab tests
- Thyroid antibodies (TPO)A blood test for antibodies against the thyroid, used when an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Hashimoto's disease is suspected.
- Antinuclear antibodies (ANA)A blood test for antinuclear antibodies, used to screen for autoimmune rheumatic conditions such as lupus.
- Rheumatoid arthritis antibodies (anti-CCP and RF)Blood tests for antibodies linked with rheumatoid arthritis, anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF).
Medicines and supplements
General education only. Never start, stop or change a medicine without your prescriber.
Sources
- Autoimmune disorders
- Hashimoto's disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Coeliac disease
- Antinuclear antibodies
Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.
Summarised from the Better Health Channel, healthdirect and Pathology Tests Explained. Sources read on 13, 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.