Uncommon Autoimmune Diseases Everyone Should Be Aware Of

Diagnosing & Treating Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Diagnosis occurs through various tests, which are chosen based on the observed symptoms the patient is exhibiting. Doctors can search for thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) when a patient shows signs of hypothyroidism, which is related to Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease. If an individual shows signs of hyperthyroidism, doctors will likely test for thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAb) and monitor the effects of antithyroid therapy. Similar to symptoms, treatments vary and depend on the results of the thyroid function tests. Patients with hypothyroidism might be able to take levothyroxine, depending on their hormone levels, and thyroxine can be used as a treatment, however, its use is controversial depending, again, on the hormone levels.

The Female Autoimmune Disease: Endometriosis

A somewhat uncommon condition affecting 10.8 million individuals globally, endometriosis affects a woman’s reproductive organs. Specifically, in this disease the layer of tissue covering the inside of the uterus grows outside of it, subsequently affecting the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and surrounding tissue. The predominant symptoms patients may experience are pelvic pain, especially during menstruation; infertility, which affects about fifty percent of women; and pain during intercourse.

Uncommon symptoms include urinary or bowel symptoms, and about twenty-five percent of women do not exhibit any symptoms. The causes of this illness are not clear, however, risk factors for endometriosis include having a family history of the disorder, and the areas of the growths bleed monthly, resulting in inflammation and scarring.