AUTOIMMUNE SYNDROME Meaning and
Definition
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Autoimmune syndrome is a medical condition characterized by the malfunction of the immune system, wherein the body's immune cells mistakenly attack its own healthy cells and tissues. This immune system dysfunction results in chronic inflammation and damage to various organs or systems in the body. The term "autoimmune syndrome" encompasses a wide range of disorders that may affect different parts of the body.
Autoimmune syndromes are caused by the body's failure to distinguish between its own cells and foreign substances, leading to the production of autoantibodies. These autoantibodies target healthy tissues and initiate an inflammatory response, causing symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, inflammation, and organ dysfunction specific to the affected part of the body.
Various autoimmune syndromes exist, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and multiple sclerosis, among others. The symptoms, severity, and areas affected may vary depending on the specific autoimmune syndrome present.
Diagnosis of autoimmune syndrome typically involves a thorough medical history review, physical examination, laboratory tests to detect autoantibodies and inflammation markers, and sometimes imaging studies. Treatment options primarily focus on managing symptoms, controlling inflammation, and suppressing the overactive immune response. This can involve the use of medications, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs, as well as lifestyle modifications and supportive therapies.
Autoimmune syndromes are chronic conditions, requiring ongoing medical management and sometimes multidisciplinary care to minimize symptoms, prevent complications, and improve overall quality of life for affected individuals.
Common Misspellings for AUTOIMMUNE SYNDROME
- zutoimmune syndrome
- sutoimmune syndrome
- wutoimmune syndrome
- qutoimmune syndrome
- aytoimmune syndrome
- ahtoimmune syndrome
- ajtoimmune syndrome
- aitoimmune syndrome
- a8toimmune syndrome
- a7toimmune syndrome
- auroimmune syndrome
- aufoimmune syndrome
- augoimmune syndrome
- auyoimmune syndrome
- au6oimmune syndrome
- au5oimmune syndrome
- autiimmune syndrome
- autkimmune syndrome
- autlimmune syndrome
- autpimmune syndrome
Etymology of AUTOIMMUNE SYNDROME
The word "autoimmune" is derived from the term "autoimmunity", which was coined in the mid-20th century. It combines the prefix "auto-" meaning "self" with "immunity", referring to the body's ability to resist infections and diseases.
The term "autoimmunity" was introduced to describe the condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages its own cells, tissues, and organs. The prefix "auto-" implies that the immune response is directed against self-components. This concept was first proposed by Nobel laureate Paul Ehrlich in the late 19th century when he suggested the existence of "horror autotoxicus", the fear of self-toxicity.
The word "syndrome" comes from the Greek "sundromē", which means "a running together". It refers to a group of symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular disease or condition.
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