Orencia (abatacept)
Orencia infusion contains the active ingredient abatacept, which is a type of medicine called a selective immunosuppressant. It is used to treat severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is known as an autoimmune disease, because ... [... more]
Net Doctor |
Pemphigoid and pemphigus
Pemphigoid and pemphigus are autoimmune diseases causing the skin to blister. Neither can be cured and both are very rare. On the surface they may appear similar but they are two different diseases. In autoimmune diseases the body perceives part ... [... more]
BBC |
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is inflammation (swelling) of the brain tissue. It is caused either by infection, usually viral, or by an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is when your immune system tries to fight off an infection but by mistake, attacks ... [... more]
NHS Direct |
Pemphigus vulgaris
Pemphigus vulgaris is very rare. There is no cure but it is controllable with heavy immunosuppressive treatment. It is non-infectious. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is one of a group of chronic, relapsing auto-immune diseases causing blistering of the ... [... more]
NHS Direct |
Arava (leflunomide)
Arava tablets contain the active ingredient leflunomide, which is a type of medicine called a disease-modifiying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). It is mainly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is known as an autoimmune disease. ... [... more]
Net Doctor |
Plaquenil
Hydroxychloroquinine is used in the treatment of some auto-immune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In these diseases the body's immune system is over-active and slightly defective. The body develops ... [... more]
Net Doctor |
Nivaquine
Nivaquine syrup contains the active ingredient chloroquine sulphate, which is an antimalarial medicine, though it also has other uses, for example, in treating the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. Chloroquine ... [... more]
Net Doctor |
Avloclor
Avloclor tablets contain the active ingredient chloroquine phosphate, which is an antimalarial medicine, though it also has other uses, for example, in treating the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. Malaria is a ... [... more]
Net Doctor |
Donna Talman
Donna Hamil Talman is a psychotherapist with an interest in the mind/body connection that predated her diagnosis with lupus erythematosus, an auto-immune disease which affects many more women than men. Her desire to find a greater meaning in her ... [... more]
Random House |
Does it run in families?
This is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis, affecting about one in 100 people. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defence mechanisms go into action when there's no threat. In this case, the immune system ... [... more]
BBC |
How does it develop?
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which inflammation causes the destruction of joints around the body. In rheumatoid arthritis the affected joints are stiff (particularly in the morning), painful, tender and swollen. Usually, more ... [... more]
BBC |
Systemic lupus erythematosus
A guide to SLE, facts about the condition and where to go for support The autoimmune disease lupus is thought to affect up to 30,000 people in the UK, mostly women. Discover the common symptoms and treatments that can relieve them. Systemic lupus ... [... more]
BBC |
