Pruritus in autoimmune diseases

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases are a collection of more than 80 individual diseases that are estimated to affect more than 3% of the U.S. population.1 Underlying this diverse group of diseases is one common pathology: the malfunction of the immune system, resulting in the destruction of self-tissue. The etiology of autoimmune diseases is thought to have both genetic and environmental contributions. © 2010 Springer-Verlag London.