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Autoimmune

Meaning

A pathological state where the body’s immune system mistakenly initiates an inflammatory response against its own healthy cells, tissues, and organs. In the context of endocrinology, this often targets hormone-producing glands, such as the thyroid in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or the beta cells of the pancreas in Type 1 diabetes. This aberrant immune response leads to glandular destruction and subsequent hormonal insufficiency or dysregulation.