In France, about five million people are affected by an autoimmune disease. Scientists have already listed more than 80. Their clinical manifestations are necessarily very diverse, but they all have one thing in common: they are triggered by an abnormal reaction of the immune system.
Autoimmune diseases heal themselves. Hence the term “autoimmune”.
False
The term “autoimmune” does not mean that these diseases heal themselves. In the case of these conditions, the immune system actually attacks its own cells, producing antibodies directly against them, as if they were foreign substances. Concretely, what does that mean? That the body “self-attacks”, in a partial way. Although research has made great progress, the causes of these diseases are still poorly understood.
Autoimmune diseases can be counted on the fingers of one hand
False
On the contrary, so-called autoimmune diseases are very numerous. Today, 80 autoimmune diseases would also have been listed. Did you know, for example, that diabetes (type 1) was an autoimmune disease? Among them, there is also Goujerot-Sjögren syndrome, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Berger’s disease… or even lupus, Dr. House’s favorite diagnosis! The list is long.
Additionally, many diseases would also be suspected to be autoimmune conditions. Among them, certain sterilities would for example be linked to an autoimmune disease. This could also be the case for psoriasis or vitiligo.
Autoimmune diseases are rare conditions.
False
According to some scientific sources, autoimmune diseases affect between 5 and 6% of the world’s population. They would thus represent the 3rd post of medical care after cancer and cardiovascular diseases. That is to say ! This rate would also be constantly increasing, especially in industrialized countries. Women would also be the most affected, without knowing exactly why.
Of course, some of these diseases are rare, such as atrophic polychondritis, and others that are more common. This is for example the case of Gougerot Sjögren’s syndrome (approximately 0.1% of the population).
Autoimmune diseases are uniquely genetic.
False
The causes of autoimmune diseases are largely unknown. The genetic factor is now clearly established, but it is not the only triggering factor for these conditions. The latter are probably the result of multiple causes (we speak of multifactorial diseases), such as, for example, a hereditary predisposition linked to an infection. Vaccines have also been suspected for many years of promoting their appearance, as is exposure to certain environmental toxins, although nothing has been proven to date.
Nothing can be done about autoimmune diseases.
False
There are different strategies to combat autoimmune diseases, although each of them requires specific treatment. Immunosuppressants, for example, make it possible to reduce the activity of the failing immune system. It is also possible to correct deficiencies by replacing substances that the body stops producing. But these numerous treatments are often not without side effects and patients generally cannot interrupt their treatment.
Finally, lifestyle (and more particularly diet) could also play a role in the treatment of these diseases. It must be taken into account.
