Abstract
Focus Area: Integrative Approaches to Care
Autoimmune disease is growing at epidemic proportions, and standard interventions are based on symptom control and immune suppression. This presentation with review a proactive integrative systems biology approach to disease prediction, prevention, and treatment, including various evidence-based modalities. Presentation elements will include an exploration of the role of the GI microbiota, food immune reactions, stealth infections and molecular mimicry in autoimmune disease pathogenesis and how these may serve as leverage points for clinical interventions. The hygiene hypothesis and changes in early environmental antigen exposue also will be explored. New opportunities for proactive screening for at-risk subjects for autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and others using emerging predictive antibody testing also will be reviewed and discussed. Integration of CAM providers with rheumatologists and other primary specialist also will be addressed.