Lung & Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disorder is condition in which the body starts to attack itself. These disorders can affect anyone at any age and they target different parts of the body. Your lungs are one of the places that can be affected by autoimmune disorders.
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Significance
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Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system incorrectly identifies healthy tissue and attacks and destroys it. This is called a hypersensitivity response. Well-known autoimmune disorders include lupus, multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis but there are many others. According to the National Library of Medicine, there are more than 80 autoimmune disorders and many can affect the lungs.
Features
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Autoimmune disorders can affect connective tissue, blood cells, glands, muscles, joints, skin and organs, including the lungs and kidneys. Depending on the type of disorder you have, more than one part of the body can be affected. You can also have more than one autoimmune disorder at the same time.
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Lupus and Lung Problems
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Cardiopulmonary, or heart and lung problems, occur frequently in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Complications in these organs can can be mild, moderate, serious or even life-threatening. Problems with the lungs from lupus may include pleuritis (an inflammation of the sac around the lung), pneumonitis, (inflammation of the lung) or blood clots in the lung.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Problems
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) usually affects the joints and surrounding tissue but can also affect your lungs, according to mayoclinic.com. RA can cause the lining of the lungs to become inflamed, fluid to accumulate around the lungs or scarring of connective tissue or small airways in the lungs.
Other Autoimmune Disorders and Lung Problems
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Vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the blood vessels. Inflammation of the blood vessels causes them to cut off nutrients in the blood supply to certain organs, especially the kidneys and sometimes the lungs.
Multiple sclerosis is an immune disorder of the central nervous system that causes low respiratory (breathing) function in many patients with the illness. The muscles that control breathing can weaken and patients have a bigger risk of getting pneumonia or complications in the lungs.
Treatment
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Treatment for lung problems associated with autoimmune disorders is always individualized and is based on specific aspects of the disease and symptoms. Most treatment will include an effort to stop inflammation and treat breathing problems. Ongoing medical supervision and monitoring is important to maintain health and prevent long-term side effects.
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