What are Autoimmune Diseases?
The immune system is the body's defense system against infection, disease, and foreign substances. Once stimulated, the immune system automatically turns on to locate and fight invading cells.

An autoimmune disease develops when the body's immune system fails to recognize normal body tissues and attacks and destroys them as if they were foreign rather than attacking an outside organism. The cause is not fully understood, but in some cases it is thought to be triggered by exposure to microorganisms or other environmental causes, especially in people with a genetic predisposition to the disorder. A single organ or multiple organs and tissues may be affected.

There are nearly 150 autoimmune disorders. While there are no cures for these disorders, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) provides expert care for people to maintain a high quality of life.

Our services
Patients with autoimmune diseases may be seen at SCCA, UW Medical Center, or Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center, depending upon their age and diagnosis.

Each person's immune system is unique and treatment varies from person to person. Treatment usually includes medications to alleviate symptoms, whether it be simply nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, to reduce symptoms depending on the specific disease or drugs like Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) or Azathioprine (Imuran) to suppress or slow down the immune system and thus slow down progression of the disease. (For a list of autoimmune diseases, click here: ) Some may even be treated with a bone marrow transplant, which occurs at SCCA’s Transplant Clinic.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Hutchinson Center), an SCCA partner organization, is taking the lead on several fronts in treating autoimmune diseases and has developed clinical trials using stem cell transplantation for treating severe autoimmune diseases. To learn about open clinical trials at Hutchinson Center, click Autoimmune Diseases Clinical Trials.

To schedule an appointment, call Seattle Cancer Care Alliance toll-free at (800) 804-8824, or (206) 288-SCCA (7222).

 

December 2006