Autoimmune Disease vs. Autoinflammation
Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. This results in inflammation and damage to various parts of the body. Some of the common autoimmune diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease.
Autoinflammation
Autoinflammation, on the other hand, is a term used to describe a group of rare genetic disorders in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues without any apparent cause. These disorders are characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation that can lead to organ damage. Examples of autoinflammatory disorders include Familial Mediterranean Fever, Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes, and Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome.
Key Differences
The main difference between autoimmune disease and autoinflammation is that autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own organs and tissues, while autoinflammatory disorders are caused by genetic mutations that cause the body’s immune system to attack its own cells and tissues without any apparent cause. Furthermore, autoimmune diseases are much more common than autoinflammatory disorders. Finally, autoimmune diseases can be managed using medications, while autoinflammatory disorders can only be managed with lifestyle changes.