Question

Susan's grandmother has rheumatoid arthritis, a disease in which her immune system makes antibodies that fail to recognize "self." Which type of disease is this?

1) Autoimmune disease
2) Infectious disease
3) Genetic disease
4) Degenerative disease

Answer 1

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system targets the joints (1). This condition arises from the body's immune system attacking its own tissues and cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

Susan's grandmother has rheumatoid arthritis, which is considered an autoimmune disease. This type of disease occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, in this case, the joints. Diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can cause a range of symptoms because the immune system targets various tissues and organs.

What sets an autoimmune disease apart is the body's specific adaptive immune response turning against itself, losing tolerance to its own cells. The cause of autoimmune diseases can include genetic factors and environmental triggers, and their symptoms can be systemic, affecting the entire body.