Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues. They can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and brain. Examples of autoimmune diseases include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
Autoinflammatory diseases, on the other hand, are conditions where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks itself due to an abnormal inflammatory response. They are often characterized by episodes of inflammation without an external cause, such as infection or an allergic reaction. Examples of autoinflammatory diseases include familial Mediterranean fever, Behcet's disease, and Crohn's disease.
The main difference between autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases is that autoimmune diseases involve the body's immune system attacking its own healthy tissue, whereas autoinflammatory diseases involve an abnormal inflammatory response. Autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body, whereas autoinflammatory diseases typically affect the skin, joints, and digestive system. Autoimmune diseases are usually chronic and can be lifelong, whereas autoinflammatory diseases tend to be episodic. Finally, autoimmune diseases are usually treated with immunosuppressive drugs, whereas autoinflammatory diseases are treated with anti-inflammatory medications.