Answer :
Final answer:
Autoimmune diseases are caused by the immune system attacking healthy tissues. They can be organ-specific or systemic, and treatment usually involves anti-inflammatory medications.
Explanation:
Diseases that are caused by a person's own immune response attacking otherwise healthy tissues are known as autoimmune diseases. In a typical healthy immune system, there is an induction of tolerance, meaning it doesn't produce an anti-self immune response. However, in autoimmunity, this tolerance is lost, and the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own cells. This can lead to various types of organ damage and altered organ function, with the specific type of autoimmune disorder depending on the tissue that is affected.
Examples of organ-specific autoimmune diseases include celiac disease, Graves disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, type I diabetes mellitus, and Addison disease. Systemic autoimmune diseases include multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Treatments for autoimmune diseases typically involve anti-inflammatory medications and other therapies aimed at reducing immune system activity.
