What are the treatment options for autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune disease treatment aims to control harmful immune activity and inflammation, ideally with therapies targeted to the particular disease and immune response. Options mentioned include:

1. Corticosteroids: They can be used to suppress an overactive immune response when inflammation or autoimmunity becomes severe, including to control significant treatment-related autoimmune effects. 1
2. Immunosuppressants: Chemotherapy was used to suppress the immune system in a severe case of Castleman disease, but the discussion does not identify methotrexate or azathioprine as options. 2
3. Biologics and monoclonal antibodies: Targeted drugs can block specific immune signals; for example, TNF therapy blocks a cytokine in some inflammatory bowel disease patients, and tocilizumab is described as approved for autoimmune diseases. 3 4
4. Immunomodulators: These can change immune activity, but some may trigger substantial autoimmune effects; in those cases, the treatment may need to be stopped and corticosteroids used to bring the immune response back under control. 5
5. Supportive care: Sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress mitigation, and other foundational health behaviors were described as part of supporting health; stress and lack of sleep can also contribute to autoimmune flares. 6 7