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The article presents an encyclopedia entry for autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity refers to an immune response directed to antigens normally expressed in the host. Autoimmune disease by definition is the pathologic consequence of an autoimmune response. The article discusses steps in preventing harmful autoimmunity in the form of autoimmune disease, such as the elimination of the potential high-affinity, self-reactive lymphocytes. Environmental and dietary factors incriminated in the development of autoimmune disease are presented.

The article presents an encyclopedia entry for cardiac disease, autoimmune. Autoimmune cardiac disease refers to a number of inflammatory diseases of the heart that have been associated with autoimmune or other immunemediated pathogenic mechanisms. The characteristics of the autoimmune heart disease such as cardiac inflammation or extensive fibrosis resulting from preceding inflammation are discussed. Infectious agents and chemicals that have cardiotoxic effects and may cause inflammatory heart disease are mentioned.