I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease. I also have celiac disease, which is thought by many to be the cause or catalyst for various other autoimmune dieseases. One of my younger brothers had Crohn's disease. I think it would be worthwhile for anyone with an autoimmune disease to research celiac and autoimmune. The research being done recently shows that foods people eat can sometimes "leak" into the blood stream and cause autoimmune disease. With celiac the treatment is to stop eating wheat, rye, and barley gluten. Celiac is a genetic disease and runs in families.