 FAMILY MEDICINE 3

Student name- Harshad Mahesh Athare.

Topic- Autoimmune Diseases.
Introduction-
Immune system problems result in abnormally low or high
immune system activity. Autoimmune illnesses are conditions
in which an overactive immune system causes the body to
attack and harm its own tissues. Immune deficiency illnesses
make the body less able to defend itself against invaders,
making it more susceptible to infections. The immune system
may start manufacturing antibodies in response to an
unidentified trigger that, instead of battling infections, target
the body's own tissues. The goal of autoimmune illness
treatment is often to lower immune system activity.

Celiac Disease
An autoimmune condition called celiac disease is brought on by
eating gluten. It is also referred to as gluten-sensitive
enteropathy, nontropical sprue, and celiac sprue. In wheat,
barley, rye, and other grains, there is a protein called gluten. It
is what gives bread its chewy texture and elastic dough.When a
person with celiac disease consumes gluten, their body
overreacts to the protein and harms their villi, which are tiny
projections that resemble fingers and are found along the small
intestine's wall.

Your small intestine cannot adequately absorb nutrients from

meals if your villi are damaged. This may eventually result in
malnutrition, bone density loss, miscarriage, infertility,
neurological disorders, or even some types of cancer.
 Symptoms-
Abdominal pain
Anemia
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhea
Gas
Itchy, blistery rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
Headaches or fatigue
Mouth ulcers
Nausea
Steatorrhea
Weight loss

 Test & Diagnosis-

Many celiac disease sufferers are unaware of their condition. It
can be detected using two blood tests:
During a serology test, your blood is examined for antibodies. A
gluten-induced immune response is indicated by elevated levels
of certain antibody proteins.
To rule out celiac disease, a genetic test for the human
leukocyte antigens HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 can be employed.
 Treatment-
The only treatment for celiac disease is a strict, permanent
gluten-free diet.

Myasthenia Gravis
An autoimmune neurological condition known as myasthenia
gravis (MG) is characterized by impaired transmission at the
neuromuscular junction. The prevalence rate varies from 150 to
200 cases per million, while the incidence ranges from 4.1 to 30
cases per million person-years. A classic illustration of an
antibody-mediated autoimmune illness is MG. The
acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are the target of
autoantibodies in the majority of MG sufferers. Muscle-specific
kinase (MuSK), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein
4 (Lrp4), and agrin are among the less frequently found
autoantibodies.

The downregulation, destruction, functional blockage, or

disruption of AChR clustering in the postsynaptic membrane are
all ways in which these autoantibodies interfere with
cholinergic transmission between nerve terminals and muscle
fibers. Fatigable muscle weakness, which may affect the ocular,
bulbar, respiratory, and limb muscles, is the primary clinical
symptom of MG. Depending on the autoantibody's kind and
whether a thymoma is present, there are different clinical
symptoms.
 Symptoms-

Weakness in your eye muscles

Drooping eyelids
Double vision
Blurred vision
Change in your facial expression
Trouble swallowing
Shortness of breath
Problems walking and lifting things
Trouble holding up your head

 Test & Diagnosis-

Blood testing-
Unusual antibodies that interfere with the receptor sites where
nerve impulses cause your muscles to contract may be
detected by a blood test.
Repeatedly stimulating the nerves-
Doctors place electrodes on your skin over the muscles that will
be examined as part of this nerve conduction investigation. For
the purpose of assessing the nerve's capacity to communicate
with your muscle, doctors administer brief electrical pulses
through the electrodes.
Doctors will frequently test the nerve to check if its capacity to
transmit impulses deteriorates with exhaustion in order to
diagnose myasthenia gravis.
Imaging-
To determine whether you have a tumor or another
abnormalities in your thymus, your doctor may prescribe a CT
scan or an MRI.

 Treatment-

Myasthenia gravis symptoms can be managed with a variety of

therapies, either separately or in combination. Your age, the
severity of your disease, and how quickly it is advancing will all
affect how you are treated.
Medications-

Cholinesterase inhibitors.( pyridostigmine )

Corticosteroids.

Immunosuppressants.

Surgery- Some persons who have myasthenia gravis have a

thymus gland tumor. The thymus gland is surgically removed
(thymectomy) if you have a tumor called a thymoma.
References-

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
myasthenia-gravis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352040
2. https://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-
myasthenia-gravis-basics
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31048702/
#:~:text=Myasthenia%20gravis%20(MG)%20is%20an,in
%20the%20postsynaptic%20muscle%20membrane.
4. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-
and-diseases/celiac-disease
5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/38085
6. https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/
treatment/