Article: Questions and Answers About Autoimmunity

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Questions and Answers About Autoimmunity http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n: & mstr=/ZZZXGV0YK2E.html & soc=AMA & srch_typ=NAV_SERCH What Causes Autoimmunity?

No

one knows why the immune system treats some body parts like germs. We

do know that you can't catch autoimmune diseases from another person.

Most

scientists think that our genes and things in the environment are

involved. If you have a certain gene or combination of genes, you may

be at higher risk for autoimmune disease. But you won't get the disease

until something around you turns on your immune system. This may

include the sun, infections, drugs or, in some women, pregnancy.