| Multiple sclerosis as an autoimmune disease is probably the
most widely accepted theory among the scientific community at the present
time. This theory does not rule out other trigger mechanisms, or other
factors such as genetics.
| Autoimmunity is the term given to the theory
that the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks the body's
own tissue and as a result causes damage.
In effect, the opposite of what the immune system is supposed
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| to do - protect the body (from invading
organisms such as bacteria or viruses). |
There are many diseases other than multiple sclerosis which
are also referred to as autoimmune disorders such as Sarcoidosis, Rheumatoid
Arthritis and Lupus Erythematosus, to name just three.
To be termed as an autoimmune disease, there must be evidence of immune
system activity but in the absence of any known pathogens (bacteria,
viruses, protozoa, etc) to trigger the immune response.In multiple
sclerosis, it is thought that the immune system either mistakenly
attacks the myelin believing it to be 'foreign substance', or, that
the immune system attacks some other, unknown tissue or organism and
the myelin gets damaged in the process.
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