Autoimmunity Classification

Several diseases and disorders are caused by autoimmune mechanisms. Autoimmune diseases can generally be divided into those that are systemic and those that are localised and only affect a certain tissue or organ.

Systemic disorders

Systemic disorders involve autoantibodies that are not specific to antigens found on certain tissues. Examples include:

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Goodpasture’s syndrome
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Scleroderma
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Dermatomyositis

Local disorders

Examples of local disorders that are specific to a particular tissue or organ can be divided into the following groups:

  • Dermatologic diseases
    • Sjögren's Syndrome
    • Scleroderma
    • Dermatomyositis
    • Psoriasis
    • Vitiligo
    • Alopecia areata
  • Endocrinologic diseases
  • Neurologic diseases
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • Myasthenia gravis
  • Hematologic diseases
    • Polyarteritis nodosa
    • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
    • Hemolytic anemia
    • Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
    • Pernicious anemia
  • Gastrointestinal diseases
    • Celiac disease
    • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Autoimmune hepatitis
    • Primary biliary cirrhosis

This organ-specific and non-organ specific classification system means that chronic inflammatory diseases are often categorized as autoimmune even if they lack the associated pathology driven by T and B cells.

Over the last decade, there has been a growing recognition that the inflammation that occurs against self tissues is not necessarily dependent on abnormal T and B cell responses. It has now been suggested that the autoimmunity should be viewed in terms of a disease continuum, where the classic autoimmune disorders lie at one end of the scale and diseases driven by innate immune mechanisms lie at the other end. This classification system is hoped to improve understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of therapies.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jul 13, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, July 13). Autoimmunity Classification. News-Medical. Retrieved on January 02, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/Autoimmunity-Classification.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "Autoimmunity Classification". News-Medical. 02 January 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/Autoimmunity-Classification.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "Autoimmunity Classification". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Autoimmunity-Classification.aspx. (accessed January 02, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. Autoimmunity Classification. News-Medical, viewed 02 January 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Autoimmunity-Classification.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post
You might also like...
MIS-C in children: A distinct autoimmune response to COVID-19 unveiled