Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which a person's immune system attacks the body's own cells, causing tissue destruction. Autoimmune diseases are classified as either general, in which the autoimmune reaction takes place simultaneously in a number of tissues, or organ specific, in which the autoimmune reaction targets a single organ. Autoimmunity is accepted as the cause of a wide range of disorders, and is suspected to be responsible for many more. Among the most common diseases attributed to autoimmune disorders are rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis (lupus), multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, and scleroderma.

The reason why the immune system become dysfunctional is not well understood. Most researchers agree that a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors play into autoimmunity. The fact that autoimmune diseases run in families suggests a genetic component. Recent studies have identified an antiphospholipid antibody (APL) that is believed to...