Autoimmune Diseases: A Pathophysiological Approach

Autoimmune disease is the clinical condition that arises due to an abnormal immune response to a body part. There are around 80 different kinds of autoimmune diseases. Certain common autoimmune diseases are diabetes mellitus type 1, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc. The diagnosis of an autoimmune disease can be difficult to determine and depends on the type of the condition or its severity. Autoimmune diseases may have certain pathological effects such as damage or destruction of tissues and altered organ function or organ growth. They may evolve into chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening conditions in some cases. The treatment of an autoimmune disease generally targets the symptoms rather than the disease itself as the causative factor is still not defined. Immunosuppressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and intravenous immunoglobulin are commonly used for treatment. This book explores all the important aspects of autoimmune diseases in modern day healthcare. It strives to provide a fair idea about the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases and to help develop a better understanding of the latest advances in this area. This book will serve as a reference to a broad spectrum of readers.