Do autoimmune disorders run in the family? - Immune Disorders Message Board

amberwalsch · 04-10-2008, 08:30 PM

Hi there-
My dad has Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I am currently undergoing testing for Chrons disease. I know that Rheumatoid Arthritis can run in the family, and I know that Chrons disease can run in the family... but my question is ... can autoimmune disorders (different ones), so autoimmune disorders in general still have a tendency to run in the family?

Thanks in advance!

VA_girl · 04-10-2008, 08:41 PM

I am no expert on this for sure, but my mother's side of the family has MD and Celiac disease and thyroid problems. I believe all three of these things are autoimmune and passed down through genes.

Wallis86 · 04-10-2008, 09:37 PM

Yes, autoimmune diseases often run in families, especially, for some reason, arthritis and bowel issues. I just read an article on this, but I can't remember where. Also, I've heard of people developing type 1 diabetes due to parental thyroid problems. The odd thing is that autoimmune diseases require environmental triggers, so even if you have the genes for it you might not get the disease. I'm an identical twin, but my sister doesn't have any of the diseases I do.

debbie363636 · 04-13-2008, 07:45 PM

The answer to your question is absolutley yes! My husband side of the family looks like this:

Mother-Ulcerative colitis
My husband- ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, currently being diagnosed with new condition of Wegener's, an extremely rare auto-imune disease
My husbands twin- diabetes
My son- thyroid disease
My daughter- lupus, sjogrens,rheumo arthritis, and raynaulds
His niece-chrons
His nephew-chrons
His neice- thyroid disease

And the list goes on. We don't know why but this suggest a strong genetic pre-dispostion. Sorry for the lousy news..................Debbie

amberwalsch · 04-13-2008, 09:18 PM

Hi there Debbie-
I am grateful for your response, but also very sorry to hear about your husband's side. I hope your family's health stays on the up-and-up.

You are in my prayers.