Autoimmune & Inflammation

Lupus

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder which affects the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs. The immune system, which normally controls the body’s defenses against infection, is turned against the body’s own cells and tissues, leading to a chronic disease of the affected systems. The cause of the disease is not fully known, but researchers believe it happens following an infection with an organism which looks similar to proteins in the body. The protein is mistakenly targeted instead of the organism. This disease can affect most organs and organ systems in the body, with most people developing arthritis, rashes, kidney problems and blood disorders. The disease affects nine times as many women as men and may occur at any age, but appears most often in people between the ages of ten and 50 years.

Transplantation/ Transplant Rejection

Organ and tissue transplants are risky surgeries which aim to replace faulty or diseased organs with new, functioning organs usually donated from family members or organ donors. Patients run the risk, however, of their body not accepting the new organ or tissue, causing an immune system response against the foreign body. This is commonly known as transplant rejection. Systems of rejection tend to include the improper functioning of the organ, general discomfort or illness, pain, swelling and fever. Immunosuppressive drugs are needed to prevent organ rejection because organ and tissue transplantation almost always causes an immune response and could result in destruction of the foreign tissue.