Symptoms of an autoimmune disease
The symptoms at the beginning of an autoimmune disease are usually unspecific and often not recognized as such. Characteristic symptoms for certain autoimmune diseases do not usually appear. The symptoms that occur include skin symptoms such as itching, rash and redness.
In some cases, affected persons complain of vegetative symptoms, i.e. symptoms of the involuntary nervous system. Increased tiredness or reduced need for sleep, altered temperature sensation, diarrhea or constipation and abnormal heart rate fall into this category. Furthermore, concentration disorders, increased feverish temperatures and unspecific abdominal complaints can be observed.
There are also joint complaints and neurological abnormalities such as sensations and tingling in hands and feet. Loss of libido is also observed in connection with some diseases. Visual disturbances such as double vision occur in multiple sclerosis and Graves’ disease.
Autoimmune diseases of the liver
The autoimmune liver diseases are subject to a faulty reaction of the body’s immune system, which leads to the destruction of the cells of the liver and bile ducts. There are three liver diseases that are subject to autoimmune dysregulation: primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis. The three diseases do not have any typical symptoms.
Those affected often complain of unspecific abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, increased fatigue, pressure in the liver area and itching. In addition, yellowing of the skin and eyes may be noticeable, as well as reduced body hair in men. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is accompanied by a chronic inflammatory reaction of the bile ducts.
The persistent inflammation causes an increased production of connective tissue, which increasingly squeezes the bile ducts. The passage of bile is made more difficult. Primary sclerosing cholangitis is often associated with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
These include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which, like cholangitis, progress in relapses.Men are significantly more frequently affected by the disease than women. If the disease remains undetected or untreated, cirrhosis of the liver can develop over time. In addition, the lifetime risk of developing carcinoma of the bile ducts increases.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a rare autoimmune disease, which accounts for about one fifth of all liver diseases. It occurs at any age. However, women between the ages of 20 and 40 are affected significantly more often than men of the same age.
The triggers of autoimmune hepatitis are usually not clearly identifiable. Environmental factors as well as antigens of viruses and bacteria seem to play a role in the pathogenesis. Salmonella, hepatitis viruses A, B, C, and D as well as herpes viruses are suspected as triggers.
In many cases it is a random finding, which is discovered during routine blood tests due to elevated liver values. The transaminases and gamma globulins are particularly conspicuous. Furthermore, antibodies against various cell components can be detected.
Primary biliary cirrhosis affects the small bile ducts of the liver. It is also a chronic inflammation that leads to cirrhotic remodelling of the liver if left untreated. The majority of affected patients are female.
Even in mildly advanced stages, diagnosis and therapy are possible. In this way, cirrhosis of the liver can be prevented in most cases. In general, drugs to suppress the immune system are used in the therapy of autoimmune liver diseases.
