Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune diseases /disorders are the result of faulty responses by the immune system, in which the body’s own tissues are attacked and damaged. For reasons that are not clearly understood, the body will sometimes produce abnormal white blood cells or anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) which, instead of attacking viral invaders and mutated cells of the body, instead attack healthy cells of the body itself. The rogue cells fail to recognise ‘self’ cells, and will attack tissues and organs as though they were invaders. Metabolic products released during this process can cause inflammation, bone erosion and other collateral damage. This can further confuse the immune system, which then becomes weakened and disorganised.

Conditions known or suspected to have an autoimmune component include asthma, coeliac disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease that affects the glands that produce tears, saliva and sweat), psoriasis, insulin-dependent diabetes, eczema, vitiligo, Addison's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and a host of obscure allergies and syndromes that can sometimes affect virtually any organ or organs of the body.

Autoimmune problems are among the most difficult to treat effectively, primarily because the causes appear to be multi-stranded, complex and indirect. Diet may be a factor in the steady rise of auto-immune diseases since around 1950, and the finger of suspicion points to intake of hydrogenated oils and fats and an excess of omega 6 oils (primarily linoleic acid), and possibly a lack of omega 3 oils in the diet as possible contributory agents.

There is also a strong connection with lengthy courses of antibiotics, anti-viral drugs and certain other long term drug treatments. Genetic factors are also known to be important, and familial predispositions to many autoimmune conditions are well established. Stress and anxiety are known to aggravate most auto-immune conditions.

In some cases there may also be a viral origin, but this is speculation and no organism or organisms have yet been specifically implicated. For example, an antibody known as the rheumatoid factor is present in around 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis, and this may be indicative of the presence of an infective agent, but none has been positively identified. Of course, this leaves about 20% of RA sufferers who do not have the antibody, although this could simply indicate a genetic inability to recognise the virus or to produce the particular antibody. The same antibody is also found in about 5% of people without any symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and this may be interpreted either as the residue of a successful defence against infection, or as an indication that the antibody is associated with RA but not related to the primary cause.

Similarly inconclusive data is associated with many other autoimmune conditions, but the one thing that is known for certain is that this class of disease has been increasing steadily in the Western population alongside the incidence of cancers, some types of which are known to be induced by viruses. Whether there is any direct causal connection is at the moment entirely speculative.

Treatment

Autoimmune conditions are generally treated on a symptomatic basis, i.e., various drugs are prescribed with the purpose of reducing the severity of symptoms associated with the particular condition. Some are very successful (for example the use of ‘disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs- DMARDs - to ease symptoms and slow down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis) but others are less so. Please refer to specific disorders for further information.

It may be beneficial to increase intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids as this may reduce severity of symptoms in some cases.
The most hopeful recent development in the treatment of autoimmune diseases probably lies with a class of natural and synthetic compounds known as immunoregulators or immunomodulators. These are substances that help regulate or normalise a compromised immune system.

Addendum:

Some credible-seeming claims are made for an immunomodulator compound called CMO™ (cerasomal-cis-9-cetylmyristoleate), which was developed at the San Diego International Immunological Center, directed by Dr. Len Sands. It is claimed that CMO is the only immunomodulator available today that can correct the memory T/cells (which cause most of the secondary and ongoing damage in autoimmune disorders). It is a naturally derived substance (naturally associated Bovine fatty acids) that has been certified as safe for human use following LD-50 testing.

Visit http://healthenlightenment.com/arthritis-autoimmune.shtml#lensands for in-depth information. Please note that Health-Answers.co.uk is not affiliated with this web site in any way, and this URL is provided for information only.