Question

Please describe and discuss some of the more uncommon autoimmune diseases.

Answer 1

Asherson’s Syndrome

Asherson's syndrome is an extremely rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the development, over a period of hours, days or weeks, of rapidly progressive blood clots affecting multiple organ systems of the body. Conditions such as infections, immunizations, wounds caused due to physical trauma and failure in the anticoagulation mechanism of the body usually act as "triggers". The symptoms of Asherson’s syndrome are caused by complications resulting from the development of multiple blood clots (thromboses) in the body.

Asherson’s syndrome is a variant of antiphospholipid syndrome, which is characterized by the presence of certain antibodies in the body and the development of blood clots. Approximately 300 individuals have been identified with Asherson’s syndrome since the disorder was first defined in the medical literature in 1992.

Acquired Hemophilia

Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by bleeding that occurs in patients with a personal and family history negative for haemorrhages Autoimmune disorders occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells or tissue. In AH, the body produces antibodies (known as inhibitors) that attack clotting factors, most often factor VIII. The symptoms of AH develop because the blood cannot clot properly. Individuals of any age can be affected, although AH is extremely rare in children.

Anemia, Hemolytic, Cold Antibody

Cold antibody hemolytic anaemia (CAHA) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) by the body's natural defences against invading organisms (antibodies). In individuals with CAHA, the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely and the rate of production of new cells in the bone marrow can no longer compensate for their loss. The blood of patients with cold antibody hemolytic anaemia, when exposed to cold temperatures, behaves in ways that are quite different from the blood of healthy people. The incidence of CAHA in the general population is about 1 in 80,000. There appears to be a slight bias in favour of females in the incidence of CAHA, with a male to female ratio of 2 to 3.