What is autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome?

Also known as: APS 1, autoimmune polyglandular syndrome, polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.

The endocrine system is composed of several glands that produce hormones, known as endocrine glands, essential to human function. An autoimmune disorder is one in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own organs and tissues. When this autoimmune reaction attacks many of the body’s tissues and endocrine glands, the condition is known autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome. While rare, it affects girls more often than boys and seems to be limited to particular ethnic groups such as Fins, Sardinians, Iranian Jews, and those from parts of northern Italy, Britain and Europe. There are two types; Types 1 and 11, which usually occurs in adults 30-40 years of age.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM