Understanding Autoimmune Disorders

Autoimmune disorders occur more frequently in women than in men. In fact, nearly 80 percent of the 25 million patients affected by autoimmune diseases in America are female. The cause of this discrepancy is not completely understood, but one hypothesis involves the way in which sex hormones influence the immune system. Some research suggests that estrogen can boost antibody production, leading to an enhanced immune system in women. While an enhanced immune system is generally a good thing that leads to greater resistance to infection, it may also help to explain why abnormal immune responses occur more commonly in women.