Description
An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s immune system is chronically overactive and attacks healthy cells. Normally, our immune system protects our body and works to keep us healthy: it helps resist infection. But sometimes during its effort to remove attacking invaders, the immune system can accidentally produce rogue cells that attack the body’s own tissues.
This is why many autoimmune diseases are thought to be triggered by bacterial or viral infections. It’s also known that the tendency to produce rogue cells can be genetic, so it’s common for autoimmune conditions to run in families.
Autoimmunity also represents a breakdown in the immune systems regulatory processes. Once these control systems are under-functioning it’s possible that further autoimmune conditions will develop.
Increased intestinal permeability can be a risk factor too. When the gut barrier becomes leaky the immune system is able to interact with the contents of the gut. These multiple interactions with food proteins, bacteria and toxins can increase the chances of rogue cells developing. Longer term a leaky gut can also be a source of constant antigens, keeping the immune system in an inflammatory state and driving further damage to the body.
There are over 100 different autoimmune conditions, some of the more common ones include:
- Addison’s disease
- Alopecia areata
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Coeliac disease
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Dermatitis herpetiformis
- Diabetes mellitus type 1
- Fibromyalgia
- Graves’ disease
- Hashimoto Thyroiditis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Interstitial cystitis
- Lupus
- Lyme disease (Chronic)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Myasthenia gravis
- Pernicious anaemia
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Vitiligo
It is now known that the antibodies involved in autoimmune disease can appear in the blood up to 10 years before the development of symptoms. More than 40% of people with one autoimmune disease will also have other auto-antibodies present. If detected early, interventions can begin in order to minimise long-term illness and promote a better quality of life.
The Cyrex multiple autoimmune reactivity screen tests a wide range of autoimmune antibodies in order to maximise identification of autoimmune conditions. The full range tested comprises antibodies against all the major body tissues – Digestive system, thyroid, adrenals, heart, ovaries, testis, joints, bones, liver, pancreas, brain and cell components including:
Parietal Cell + ATPase IgG + IgA Combined
Intrinsic Factor IgG + IgA Combined
ASCA + ANCA IgG + IgA Combined
Tropomyosin IgG + IgA Combined
Thyroglobulin IgG + IgA Combined
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) IgG + IgA Combined
21 Hydroxylase (Adrenal Cortex) IgG + IgA Combined
Myocardial Peptide IgG + IgA Combined
Alpha-Myosin IgG + IgA Combined
Phospholipid IgG + IgA Combined
Platelet Glycoprotein IgG + IgA Combined
Ovary/Testis* IgG + IgA Combined
Fibulin IgG + IgA Combined
Collagen Complex IgG + IgA Combined
Arthritic Peptide IgG + IgA Combined
Osteocyte IgG + IgA Combined
Cytochrome P450 (Hepatocyte) IgG + IgA Combined
Insulin + Islet Cell Antigen IgG + IgA Combined
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (GAD 65) IgG + IgA Combined
Myelin Basic Protein IgG + IgA Combined
Asialoganglioside IgG + IgA Combined
Alpha + Beta Tubulin IgG + IgA Combined
Cerebellar IgG + IgA Combined
Synapsin IgG + IgA Combined
This test is recommended to those who:
- Suspect they have an autoimmune condition
- Have been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, as they commonly develop additional autoimmune conditions
- Have chronic increased intestinal permeability, which is a common driver in autoimmune disorders
* If you request a refund on any unfulfilled Cyrex tests purchased via this website, refunds will be subject to a £40 Lab Fee