I thought autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Hashimoto’s, etc are because the immune system is overactive - targeting bodily systems, not underactive.
Am I misguided?
It’s probably an indirect correlation, caused by the immunosuppressant drugs prescribed for arthritis rather than the arthritis itself. Same for the transplant recipients, as they are on even stronger immunosuppressants.
Autoimmune diseases are suppressed by down regulating immune system by different meds...that is why they have poor immune response. Transplant patient have medicine induced immunosuppression also. Plus specific autoimmune diseases attack certain tissues....not necessarily infectious agents.
You already got good answers from ETCM and Getready here.
HIV attacks and destroys the infection-fighting CD4 cells of the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight off diseases.
Patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, take drugs to tamp down their overactive immune systems.
Okay, found this in case it helps explain: