Autoimmune disorders, also referred to as autoimmune diseases, are conditions arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part. There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases. Almost any body part can be involved. Signs and symptoms of autoimmune disorders can include low grade fever and feeling tired. Often symptoms come and go and the sooner medical attention is sought the better. Autoimmune disorders are commonly misdiagnosed and the medications prescribed are often dangerous. Please connect with our medical negligence attorneys handling claims regarding autoimmune disorders.
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Most Common Autoimmune Disorders
Dozens of auto-immune diseases exist and a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis can result in further injury, medical issues, lost work time and wrongful death. Some of the more common are:
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – Commonly referred to as Type 1 diabetes (there are 3 types) this occurs when immune system cells attack cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Patients with Type 1 diabetes require insulin injections on a daily basis.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – This is also referred to as Irritable Bowel Disease and there are several types. Patients with IBS/IBD have the lining of their intestines and stomach attacked by their own immune system. This can result in rectal bleeding, diarrhea, very urgent bowel movements, abdominal pain, weight loss and fever. Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease are the 2 most common types of IBS.
Lupus – Actually termed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is caused by autoimmune antibodies developing and connecting to healthy tissue throughout the body such as joints, lungs, blood cells, nerves, kidneys and more are typically impacted by Lupus.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – The immune system makes antibodies that attack the joints. This results in pain, swelling, loss of mobility and joint or knuckle deformity. If RA is not properly diagnosed or treated it can lead to long term joint damage, disability due to not being able to work and severe financial strain as well as physical pain. RA is often misdiagnosed as other types of arthritis, Lyme Disease induced arthritis and Palindromic rheumatism.
Celiac Disease – This condition stems from an immune system response to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein commonly found in wheat, barley, and rye. The immune reaction to eating gluten creates inflammation that damages the small intestine’s lining, leading to medical complications. It also prevents absorption of some nutrients (malabsorption). Many people with Celiac’s Disease show no symptoms but in those that do diarrhea is the most common symptom along with bloating, gas, fatigue, low blood count (anemia) as well as osteoporosis.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – As the name implies the immune system attacks multiple parts of the nervous system such as nerve cells, the nervous system, central nervous system, the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include pain, blindness, dizziness, muscle weakness, muscle spasms and impaired motor function. Multiple Sclerosis is commonly mistakenly diagnosed as a migraine headache, Lyme Disease, Neuropathy, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lupus, stroke and Fibromyalgia among others.
Ankylosing Spondylitis – Also called Bechterew’s Disease occurs in early adulthood and is much more commonly seen in males. As it is an inflammatory disease in time the spinal cord bones and vertebrae to fuse limiting posture and resulting in having to walk hunched forward. Ribs can also be impacted which leads to great difficulty in taking deep breaths. AS is commonly incorrectly diagnosed as Rheumatoid Arthritis, chronic lower back pain, Fibromyalgia, Psoriatic Arthritis, Enteropathic Arthritis and Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis aka DISH.
Crohn’s Disease – has This autoimmune disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease impacting the lining of the digestive tract aka GI tract. Crohn’s disease has the capacity to result in life-threatening complications. Common symptoms are acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. As with Celiac’s Disease patients most go their lives without any symptoms. Others can have severe chronic symptoms that never go away. Crohn’s disease, again like Celiac’s Disease, cannot be cured. Steroids, immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to slow the progression of disease. If these aren’t effective, a patient may require surgery. Also, patients with Crohn’s disease may need to receive regular screening for colorectal cancer due to increased risk.
Vasculitis – Patients with vasculitis show a really wide range of symptoms as it can attack anywhere in the body, any system and or organ. The immune system attacks the blood vessels which is what leads to systemic injury if not diagnosed in a timely fashion and treated properly. Vasculitis is often improperly diagnosed and confused with cholesterol emboli, endocarditis, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome aka pseudovasculitis. As with any improper diagnosis the disease can advance causing more bodily harm and closing treatment windows.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy –
Guillain-Barre Syndrome –
Psoriasis –
Grave’s Disease –
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis –
Myasthenia Gravis –
There are many other autoimmune diseases than these but these are the most common. If you have an autoimmune disorder, and it was improperly diagnosed, treatment options were lost, a surgical error was done or the medication prescribed resulted in further illness, injury or death, please contact our Washington DC medical malpractice attorneys handling autoimmune disease lawsuits.
Autoimmune Disorder Lawsuits
Patients that have had autoimmune disorders misdiagnosed, or were caused by a medication or drug interaction are reporting very serious injuries such as internal bleeding, amputation, hemorrhaging, cancers, Ischemic stroke, heart attacks, nerve damage, paralysis, brain injuries, spinal cord injures, organ damage and organ failure.
Having an autoimmune disorder diagnosis delayed, incorrectly diagnosed, or misdiagnosed can cause non-physical injuries as well. These can be emotional suffering, physical pain, suicidal thoughts and attempts, lost wage compensation, diminished quality of life, loss of accumulations, loss of support and loss of services.
In addition, in many cases of autoimmune disorder lawsuits if the life of a loved one is the final outcome their estate and family may obtain death benefits, funeral expenses and survival benefits when applicable. Please contact our Delaware injury lawyers handling lawsuits for misdiagnosing autoimmune disorders.
How Our Autoimmune Disorder Misdiagnosis Lawyers Can Help
For a free case review with our team of Maryland medical malpractice attorneys please click here. They provide free case exams and charge no fees if they do not recover for you.
No matter what state you were injured in our team of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers can help as they serve all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. including: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.