As colorful the symptom picture is, as interdisciplinary is the therapy – involved are, for example, internists, dermatologists, rheumatologists, neurologists or metabolic specialists (endocrinologists). It is almost impossible to make general statements about treatment, as it varies greatly depending on the disease. If individual organs such as the thyroid or pancreas are affected, the loss of function must be compensated, for example, by supplying the missing thyroid hormones or insulin.
Common therapeutic methods
So-called immunosuppressants such as cortisone are available to suppress the activity of the immune system; however, the attenuation is nonspecific, possibly suppressing healthy defense mechanisms as well. In many cases, anti-inflammatory drugs are also used. Curative therapies are so far only possible in individual cases and in the beginning – as an example, stem cell transplantation for diabetes mellitus.
Fighting off the defensive battle?
However, an Australian research team and a research group in Braunschweig, Germany, appear to have come closer to the dream of making a cure possible in recent years: The scientists have discovered a control mechanism that can be used to re-regulate the immune system. The hope is that this can be used to develop a drug that stops an autoimmune disease that has broken out. However, even if the idea proves viable, it will be several years before such a cure is developed and approved.
British scientists have recently deciphered the mechanism by which the placenta of a pregnant woman prevents the maternal immune system from attacking the unborn child, which is actually a foreign body. Apparently, certain proteins on the surface of the placenta camouflage it, making it practically invisible to the defense cells. The researchers now want to use such proteins to treat autoimmune diseases – initial tests have already begun.
Whether something can be done preventively against autoimmune diseases (e.g., if other family members have the disease) is controversial and can at best be answered for individual diseases.
