Inflammation happens when the immune system responds to an infection or injury. It's needed to fight things that invade the body, such as infections or cancer.
But sometimes, inflammatory responses don't turn off or are overactive.
SAIDs are a group of conditions where immune system defects trigger overactive inflammation episodes. Some of these diseases have a known genetic cause.
There are more than 50 SAIDs and more than 500 inborn errors of immunity (inherited/genetic immune disorders).
Many are lifelong issues that start during childhood but can persist into adulthood.
SAIDs are rare and often under-recognized.
At UPMC, our doctors are experts in diagnosing and treating adults and children with these issues.
Working with a SAIDs expert is crucial and may help:
Yes. We only accept referrals from other doctors.
Ask your doctor to provide all related health records, including prior genetic testing, if done, when they refer you.
To place a referral:
Before your visit, please complete the UPMC SAIDs patient questionnaire (PDF).
You'll have your first and yearly follow-up visits in person.
We also offer video visits for people who need more frequent appointments.
Many SAIDs and related immune issues are very rare, making them tough to diagnose.
Some have genetic markers, while others don't.
Because of this, your doctor may base their diagnosis of SAIDs on:
At UPMC, our state-of-the-art testing lets us tailor precise treatment for each person. This means there's hope for those who suffer from these SAIDs.
Lab tests can show proof of inflammation if checked during a flare, although these may return to normal in between flares.
As we work toward a diagnosis, you may see many members of our team.
We also work closely with the:
Many people with SAIDs can live very well. Some SAIDs get better over time.
For more severe and genetic lifelong SAIDs, treatment can help decrease symptoms and long-term effects of inflammation.
Just 10 years ago, people with SAIDs had very few treatment options.
Today, we're able to offer newer treatments like medicines that target distinct problems in the immune system.
These can include:
While they have side effects — as all drugs do — they offer better results than past treatments.
In some cases, drugs can target pathways known to be active in certain SAIDs. In very severe cases, we may suggest a bone marrow transplant.
Our team takes a group approach to treatment. We meet with you to share our views.
We also meet to align care and take all the experts' input into account to design the best treatment plan.
Our experts have:
As a center focused on SAID diagnosis and treatment, we:
