It is the job of your immune system to protect you against foreign invaders. Your antibodies are a weapon in that fight. But in an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakenly sees your tissues as foreign and attacks them. Rheumatoid factor is an antibody that sees your tissues as foreign. It is found in many autoimmune diseases as well as in some infectious diseases.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
According to Roy Altman, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at the University of California, the exact cause for rheumatoid arthritis is still unknown. It has been determined that there are antibodies (rheumatoid factor) in your affected joints. These antibodies cause the synovial membrane that lines your joints to become inflamed. The membrane thickens and interferes with the blood flow. The inflammation increases and spreads to destroy the adjacent cartilage, tendons and bones. Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects both wrists and specific joints in your fingers. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your joints may be stiff, swollen and painful every morning.
Sjogren Syndrome
You might develop Sjogren's by itself or you may develop this disease with other rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Sjogren's is an autoimmune disease in which your immune cells infiltrate some of your glands. Your eyes may feel very dry and you may have a dry mouth and increased dental cavities. If the disease progresses, it could affect your lungs and blood vessels.
Scleroderma
This is an autoimmune disease that is also called progressive systemic sclerosis. There are two forms of this disorder, but in both forms the skin on your face and hands will usually get very thick. Also, in both forms, you will periodically have spasms in the arteries of your fingers that will interfere with the blood flow in your fingers, and you will clearly see color changes in them. The spasms and their color changes are called Raynaud's phenomenon.
Dermatomyositis
David Hellmann, M.D. writes in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment," that the cause for dermatomyositis is unknown. Like rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's and scleroderma, it is an autoimmune disease, but it involves the inflammation of your skin and muscles. Some of the signs and symptoms include muscle weakness and a very distinctive purplish rash around your eyes. If your neck, shoulders and the upper area of your chest and back get red, then you have what is known as the "shawl sign."
Sarcoidosis
The cause of sarcoidosis is also unknown, but it is a disorder where inflammation causes granulomas to form in your lungs, although they can form in other places as well. Granulomas are collections of white blood cells that have changed their form; and the white blood cells are surrounded by other cells that are part of your immune system. Your symptoms may include fever, weight loss, cough and arthritis.
References
- "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009"; Stephen McPhee, M.D., Maxine Papadakis, M.D.; 2009
- The Merck Manual: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- The Merck Manual: Sarcoidosis
