Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases arise from an abnormal immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body.

Types of autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases can be localized, which means affecting only specific tissues or organs, or systematic, making affecting many tissues or organs.

Localized autoimmune disease
Examples include:
 * Crohn's disease
 * Type 1 diabetes
 * Graves' disease, which is one of the most common causes of thyroiditis

Systemic autoimmune diseases
Examples include:
 * Multiple sclerosis (MS)
 * Rheumatoid arthritis
 * Scleroderma
 * Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)

Autoimmune hypothesis in ME and CFS
Many people with ME/CFS also have autoimmune conditions such as Fibromyalgia or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or have a family history of autoimmune diseases. POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, can be initiated or maintained by autoantibodies as well, and POTS is common in people with ME. A number of different immune system abnormalities have been found in some patients with ME/CFS.

ME/CFS is being investigated to determine if it is caused by Autoimmunity in some patients.

Notable studies

 * 2018, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – Evidence for an autoimmune disease

Learn more

 * Autoimmunity - British Society for Immunology