Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system, which normally defends the body against infection, mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. There are more than eighty recognised autoimmune diseases, and rheumatology deals with many of those affecting joints, muscles, skin and connective tissue.
Understanding Autoimmune Disease
The immune system uses antibodies and immune cells to recognise and remove threats. In autoimmune disease this recognition fails and the body is treated as the enemy. Some conditions attack a single organ, such as the thyroid, while others - including lupus, vasculitis and systemic sclerosis - can affect multiple organ systems.
Common Autoimmune Conditions We Treat
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and juvenile arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthritides
- Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma and inflammatory myositis
- Vasculitis, including ANCA-associated and large-vessel disease
- Overlap syndromes and undifferentiated connective tissue disease
Possible Warning Signs
- Persistent joint pain, swelling or morning stiffness
- Unexplained fever, weight loss or profound fatigue
- Skin rashes, photosensitivity, mouth ulcers or hair loss
- Dry eyes and mouth, or recurrent eye inflammation
- Raynaud's phenomenon, muscle weakness or breathlessness
- Abnormal blood or urine tests found incidentally
How Autoimmune Disease Is Diagnosed
Diagnosis combines clinical assessment with targeted tests. No single antibody test is diagnostic on its own:
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) as a screening test, followed by specific antibodies
- Inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) and organ function tests
- Imaging such as ultrasound, MRI or CT
- Tissue biopsy when needed for confirmation
Treatment Principles
- Reducing inflammation and suppressing the overactive immune response
- Disease-modifying drugs (DMARDs) and biologics to control the underlying disease
- Corticosteroids for rapid control of flares
- Regular monitoring for disease activity, medication effects and organ involvement
- Lifestyle measures, vaccination and a multidisciplinary approach
When to See a Rheumatologist
Consult a rheumatologist if you have persistent symptoms suggesting an autoimmune or inflammatory condition, or if blood tests such as ANA are abnormal. Early specialist assessment allows accurate diagnosis and timely treatment.