Autoimmune Diseases

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Course Objectives
Discuss various autoimmune diseases and demonstrate understanding of the immune system
Break down individual autoimmune diseases by bodily location
Describe common blood tests used in the diagnostic process
Course Content
Course Creator: Kirsten Hermens, NCMA-P
Total CE Hours: 1 Credit Hour 
Pace Course #: 586-2214-25

Key Terms:
Antibodies
Blood tests
Differential Diagnosis
Outlook
Prevention
Risk Factor

Outline:
  • Introduction to The Immune System
    • Jobs of the immune system
      • Keeping the body healthy
      • Protecting the body from invaders
    • Three types of the immune system
      • Typical Immune System
      • Weak Immune System
      • Overactive Immune System
    • Twelve Components of the Immune System
      • White blood cells
      • Antibodies
      • Cytokines
      • Complement system
      • Lymph nodes
      • Spleen
      • Tonsils
      • Adenoids
      • Thymus
      • Bone Marrow
      • Skin
      • Mucosa
    • Innate and Acquired Immunity
    • The Immune System & Autoimmune Diseases
  • Locations of Autoimmune Diseases
    • Joints & Muscles
      • Lupus (SLE)
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Myositis
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
    • Skin and Blood Vessels
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Psoriasis
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Scleroderma
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Sjögren’s Syndrome
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Vasculitis
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
    • Digestive System
      • Celiac Disease
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Crohn’s Disease
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
    • Endocrine System
      • Graves’ Disease
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
    • Nervous System
      • Guillain-Barré Syndrome
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
      • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
        • What is it
        • Symptoms
        • Causes and/or Risk Factors
        • Diagnosis and Testing
        • Treatment and Management
        • Prevention, Outlook, and Living With
  • Blood Testing
    • Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
    • Complete Blood Count (CBC)
    • C-reactive protein (CRP)
    • Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP)
    • Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
    • Creatine Kinase (CK)
    • Rheumatoid Factor (RF)

References:
  1. Healthline Media. (n.d.). Autoimmune disease: Types, symptoms, causes, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders#causes
  2. Healthline Media. (n.d.). Autoimmune disease: Types, symptoms, causes, and more. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/autoimmune-disorders#causes
  3. Professional, C. C. medical. (2024, December 5). Your immune system: What you need to know. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21196-immune-system
  4. What are the most common lupus symptoms?. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, April 25). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4875-lupus
  5.  Lupus facts and statistics. Lupus Foundation of America. (n.d.). https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics
  6. Myositis: Symptoms, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, May 12). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24170-myositis
  7. What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?. Cleveland Clinic. (2025b, February 7). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4924-rheumatoid-arthritis
  8. Dermatomyositis: Symptoms, causes & treatments. Cleveland Clinic. (2025a, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15701-dermatomyositis
  9.  Psoriatic arthritis: Symptoms and treatments. Cleveland Clinic. (2025c, April 25). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13286-psoriatic-arthritis
  10. Psoriasis: What it is, symptoms, causes, types & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025c, April 25). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6866-psoriasis
  11. What is scleroderma?. Cleveland Clinic. (2025g, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/scleroderma
  12. What are Sjögren’s syndrome symptoms? Cleveland Clinic. (2025e, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4929-sjogrens-syndrome
  13. Vasculitis: Symptoms, types & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025e, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12101-vasculitis
  14. Celiac disease: Symptoms & how it’s treated. Cleveland Clinic. (2025a, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14240-celiac-disease
  15. Crohn’s disease: What it is, symptoms, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025b, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9357-crohns-disease
  16. What is graves’ disease? Cleveland Clinic. (2025i, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15244-graves-disease
  17. Hashimoto’s disease. Cleveland Clinic. (2025d, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17665-hashimotos-disease
  18. Guillain-Barré syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. (2025d, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15838-guillain-barre-syndrome
  19. Multiple sclerosis: What you need to know. Cleveland Clinic. (2025f, June 2). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17248-multiple-sclerosis
  20. Search. Labcorp. (n.d.). https://www.labcorp.com/test-menu/search
*     Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). America’s most trusted dictionary. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/

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