Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disease is associated with a malfunction of the immune system which  causes the body to attack its own tissues. The body's immune system is a complex network of specialized cells and organs that defends against foreign substances and invaders. The foreign substances and invaders can include foreign bodies, bacteria, parasites, cancer cells and transplanted tissue or organs. Normally, the body's immune system attacks foreign substances and invaders in order to protect the body. However, the immune system can malfunction and the body mistakes its own tissues as foreign. The immune system then produces immune cells (lymphocytes) and autoantibodies that target and attack those tissues. This autoimmune reaction, causes inflammation and tissue damage. 

TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Treatment of autoimmune disease focuses on controlling the autoimmune reaction with multiple medication options including: corticosteroids (prednisone etc), NSAIDS, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs/methotrexate,Trexall,Rasuvo and hydroxychloroquine/Plaquenil), biologics  (Enbrel, Erelzi, Eticovo,Remicade) and JAK inhibitors.  DMARDs target the entire immune system, whereas biologics work by targeting specific steps in the inflammatory process outside the cells (cytokines), and JAK inhibitors block enzymes (JAK1,JAK2, JAK3) inside the cells.

At Britt Perio we have treatment methods to reduce the periodontal inflammatory burden on the body which can reduce the severity of autoimmune diseases.