How Many of Us Have Other Autoimmune Issues?

[tex]

Hi All,

Lets see if we can figure out how prevelant multiple autoimmune issues are. I know that a lot of us have more than one autoimmune issue. Even if you don't have MC, but have other autoimmune issues, please cast your vote in this poll. Eligible autoimmune issues include, but are not necessarily limited to:


Diseases known to have autoimmune origins:

* Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a form of encephalitis caused by an autoimmune reaction and typically occurring a few days or weeks after a viral infection or a vaccination.
* Addison's disease is often caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex.
* Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) affects the blood-clotting process. It causes blood clots to form in veins and/or arteries.
* Aplastic anemia is often caused by an autoimmune attack on the bone marrow.
* Autoimmune hepatitis is a disorder wherein the liver is the target of the body's own autoimmune system.
* Celiac disease is a disease characterised by chronic inflammation of the proximal portion of the small intestine caused by exposure to certain dietary gluten proteins.
* Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. Major symptoms include abdominal pain and diarrhea.
* Diabetes mellitus (type 1) is the result of an autoimmune attack on the islet cells of the pancreas.
* Goodpasture's syndrome is a disease characterised by rapid destruction of the kidneys and haemorrhaging of the lungs through autoimmune reaction against an antigen found in both organs.
* Graves' disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, and is caused by anti-thyroid antibodies that have the effect of stimulating the thyroid into overproduction of thyroid hormone.
* Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system (i.e., not the brain and spinal column). It is also called acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, acute idiopathic polyradiculoneuritis, acute idiopathic polyneuritis and Landry's ascending paralysis.
* Hashimoto's disease is a common form of hypothyroidism, characterised by initial inflammation of the thyroid, and, later, dysfunction and goiter. There are several characteristic antibodies (e.g., anti-thyroglobulin).
* Lupus erythematosus is a chronic (long-lasting) autoimmune disease wherein the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks normal tissue. This attack results in inflammation and brings about symptoms. This is a "Non-organ-specific" type of autoimmune disease.
* Multiple sclerosis is a disorder of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) characterised by decreased nerve function due to myelin loss and secondary axonal damage.
* Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of neuromuscular transmission leading to fluctuating weakness and fatigue. Weakness is caused by circulating antibodies that block acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction.
* Opsoclonus myoclonus syndrome (OMS) is a neurological disorder that appears to the result of an autoimmune attack on the nervous system. Symptoms include opsoclonus, myoclonus, ataxia, intention tremor, dysphasia, dysarthria, mutism, hypotonia, lethargy, irritability or malaise. About half of all OMS cases occur in association with neuroblastoma.
* Optic neuritis is an inflammation of the optic nerve that may cause a complete or partial loss of vision.
* Ord's thyroiditis is a thyroiditis similar to Hashimoto's disease, except that the thyroid is reduced in size. In Europe, this form of thyroid inflammation is more common than Hashimoto's disease.
* Pemphigus is an autoimmune disorder that causes blistering and raw sores on skin and mucous membranes.
* Primary biliary cirrhosis appears to be an autoimmune disease that affects the biliary epithelial cells (BECs) of the small bile duct in the liver. Although the cause is yet to be determined, most of the patients (>90%) appear to have auto-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) against pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), an enzyme that is found in the mitochondria.
* Psoriasis is a skin disorder in which rapidly-multiplying skin cells produce itchy, scaly inflamed patches on the skin.
* Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body's immune system to attack the bone joints.
* Reiter's syndrome seems to be an autoimmune attack on various body systems in response to a bacterial infection and the body's confusion over the HLA-B27 marker
* Takayasu's arteritis is a disorder that results in the narrowing of the lumen of arteries.
* Temporal arteritis (also known as "giant cell arteritis") is an inflammation of blood vessels, most commonly the large and medium arteries of the head. Untreated, the disorder can lead to significant vision loss.
* Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a disorder characterized by IgM attack against red blood cells
* Wegener's granulomatosis is a form of vasculitis that affects the lungs, kidneys and other organs.


Diseases suspected to be linked to autoimmunity are:

* Alopecia universalis is a suspected autoimmune disease in which the body's white blood cells attack hair and result in total baldness.
* Chagas' disease in the chronic phase is believed to result from homology of a T. cruzi antigen to body tissue, resulting in a delayed autoimmune reaction leading to Chagasic cardiopathy (cardiomegaly), volvulus or constipation, and ultimately death.
* Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder whose primary symptom is usually intense fatigue. Though the syndrome likely has multiple causes, some maintain that autoimmune damage to the brain stem is the principal mechanism in a significant subset of cases.
* Dysautonomia is a malfunction of the autonomic nervous system, including such disorders as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Though dysautonomia appears to have multiple causes, post-viral autoimmune damage appears to be a frequent cause.
* Endometriosis is a common medical condition wherein the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) is found outside of the uterus, typically affecting other organs in the pelvis. The condition can lead to serious health problems, primarily pain and infertility.
* Hidradenitis suppurativa is a rare skin disease in which apocrine sweat glands become severely inflamed. Researches have found an improvement in case studies with Remicade and other biologics.
* Interstitial cystitis is a urinary bladder disease characterised by any of the following symptoms, though symptoms vary greatly from patient to patient: pelvic pain, urinary frequency (as often as every 30 minutes, or even fewer), urgency, pain with sexual intercourse, and pain with urination.
* Neuromyotonia is spontaneous muscular activity resulting from repetitive motor unit action potentials of peripheral origin. It develops as a result of both acquired and hereditary diseases. The acquired form is more frequent and is usually caused by antibodies against neuromuscular junction.
* Sarcoidosis is a disease wherein granulomas can form anywhere in the body but particularly in the lungs.
* Scleroderma is a chronic disease characterized by excessive deposits of collagen. Progressive systemic scleroderma, the serious type of the disease, can be fatal. The local type of the disease is not serious.
* Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease of the bowel that usually affects the distal end of the large intestine and rectum. It has no known cause, although there is a genetic component to susceptibility. Some medical authorities (such as the UK's National Blood Donation Service which refuses donations from Colitis sufferers) class Colitis as an Autoimmune disease.
* Vitiligo is the spontaneous loss of pigment from areas of skin. The pigment-free areas have few or no melanocytes. Researchers have detected anti-melanocyte antibodies in some cases of vitiligo, so it seems likely that at least some instances of this condition are the result of autoimmune problems.
* Vulvodynia is used to describe pain in the vulva, often severe, of unknown cause. "Vulvar vestibulitis" is a related term.


I got the above list from Wikipedia, but it appears to be incomplete. Off the top of my head I can think of several that should be on the list:

* Ankylosing Spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints.
* Asthma is characterised by a histamine induced constriction of the air passageways leading to the lungs.
* Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a problem of hyperactivity in children.
* Autism is a developmental disability that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood.
* Dermatitis herpetiformis is a chronic, extremely itchy rash, consisting of bumps and blisters, and caused by a sesitivity to gluten in the diet.
* Druesen is an eye condition related to macular degeneration. (I have this condition myself).
* Gallbladder disease is far too common among among MC patients for it to not to be autoimmune connected.
* Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the valve of smooth. muscle between the esophagus and the stomach does not function properly.
*Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) a bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys platelets, which are necessary for normal blood clotting, a condition that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding.
* Microscopic Colitis, of course.
* Peripheral neuropathy can cause tingling or numbness in hands or feet.
* Pernicious anemia is caused by a failure to absorb vitamin B-12, (cobalamine).
* Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause facial redness, and sometimes affects the eyes.
* Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that causes dry eyes and a dry mouth..
* Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, (or syndrome), (TMJ), is marked by a "clicking" sound when the jaw is opened or closed, and sometimes the jaw opening range is severely limited. (I had this condition before I got my symptoms under control).

I wonder how many more should be on the list, that I have overlooked?

Thanks,
Tex

[Lucy]

Over 5.

[Mars]

MC
Endrometirosis
Asthma
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

[barbaranoela]

Well Tex---after going thru all that U posted---I didnt realize I was so sick!!!
Not being *funny* --just a realization of all that has hit me here and there and never really associating them with auto-immune~~~

Margie-----fatigue!!!!! horrible feeling--

luve --Barb

[celia]

Tex,

Great question! I didn't see "gluten sensitivity" on the list (aside from CD) and my test with Dr. Fine indicated an autoimmune reaction. Did I miss it on the list? Should we count our gluten sensitivity as one autoimmune disease?

For me then the list would include-
microscopic colits
gluten sensitivity

I am not including fibromyalgia since I don't think I really have it and it's uncertain if it's autoimmune related or due to other actions in the body/brain. And am definitely not including Sjorgren's since that seems an outside possibility. My dryness could be due to other causes.

Thanks for starting the poll.
Celia

[tex]

Hi Celia,

Right above CD is celiac disease, and of course, UC and MC are farther down the list. I feel pretty strongly that gluten sensitivity is an integral part of all of those diseases.

You raise an interesting point, though. The reason I didn't list gluten sensitivity, is because I feel that it would be redundant. In fact, I'm gonna stick my neck way out and say that I believe that one day medical researchers will prove that gluten sensitivity is connected with each and every disease on that list. It has already been demonstrated to be connected with quite a few of them.

Tex

[annie oakley]

It's amazing we function at all. We must all be pretty strong
Love Oma

[kate_ce1995]

I decided on 3 from Wayne's list. But that is only diagnosed. It doesn't diagnose the aches, pains, fatigue. But then I that may all be gluten related.

Katy

[harvest_table]

This is a very thought provoking Poll and I hope we get lot's of response.

I seem to be in the minority so far- I chose 1- MC is the only one I have been DX with but like you say Katy, what about all the earlier symptoms of D, severe muscle and joint pain, fatigue and depression. Elimination of Gluten, Dairy, Sugar, and processed foods from my diet has helped greatly. Your right Wayne, Gluten is a nasty culprit.

Good Sunday All!
Joanna

[artteacher]

You did your homework, Wayne. I counted 4:

LC
lupus High ANA (antinuclear antibody) count, high SED rate, anemia, hypothyroidism, pleurosy, inflammatory markers
autoimmune hypothyroidism (antibodies to a person's own thyroid cause it to underfunction - 1/3 of all hypothyroidism is caused by this, according to readings)
rosacea I counted it because it is suspected to be an autoimmune disease - an inflammation of facial blood vessels with higher incidence among those with digestive disorders and of Irish and Scandinavian heritage.

Marsha

P.S. Being dairy free and taking Caltrate for 5 years reduced symptoms, but LC and lupus remained active and in evidence through bloodwork and biopsy.
LC and Lupus not longer in evidence, one year after grains eliminated, and sulfites reduced.

[tex]

Marsha,

I started to add rosacea, but was deterred by some doctors' opinions that it's not an autoimmune disease, just a case of an overactive immune system. Well duh! I thought that an overactive immune system was one of the distiinguishing features of an autoimmune issue.

FWIW, I agree with you that it's an autoimmune disease.

Tex

[barbaranoela]

YUP--add Rosacea to the auto immune list also--

Columbo

[celia]

OK Tex, if gluten sensitivity isn't counted, I'll take the poll with 1 (MC). Guess, I'm the really lucky! But I still haven't sorted out the dry symptoms nor my peripheral neuropathy which is triggered by food.

Best to all, Celia

[tex]

Celia,

To further explain the reason why I didn't list gluten sensitivity as a separate autoimmune issue, is because if I had done that, a high percentage of those with either MC or sprue, would also have to list gluten sensitivity as an additional autoimmune issue, when the reality is that they wouldn't have MC or sprue, if they weren't gluten sensitive. I think this applies to the other autoimmune issues as well--they're all linked with gluten sensitivity.

That's also the reason why I didn't list Leaky Gut Syndrome, (LGS)--we all have it.

It's not easy to set up a poll like this to be perfectly objective, since these issues are all linked in various, sometimes complex, ways.

Tex

[CAMary]

I guess I am at 2, but I'm not really seeing a connection with TMJ being *necessarily* autoimmune. Supposedly It can be caused by a variety of factors including injury. My dentist told me I have it since my jaw "clicks", but I have never had pain or issues from it. I also believe the cause (in my case) is the aggressive orthodonture I had as a child which was an attempt to change my jaw/bite.

TMJ
MC

That's it!

Mary