An overview of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a long-lasting and dysregulated immune response that can persist for weeks, months, or even years. While acute inflammation is a normal and essential defense mechanism that helps the body respond to infection or injury, chronic inflammation develops when the immune response fails to resolve and instead continues to target healthy tissues. Over time, this persistent immune activity can lead to tissue damage, impaired function, and disease.
In many cases, chronic inflammation arises when the processes that normally terminate acute inflammation do not function properly. As a result, the inflammatory response continues, leading to ongoing tissue destruction and scarring as the body repeatedly attempts to repair the damaged tissue.
Chronic inflammatory diseases can generally be grouped into three broad categories: autoimmune conditions, autoinflammatory conditions, and delayed-type hypersensitivity conditions.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly recognizes the body’s own tissues as foreign and mounts an immune response against them. This inappropriate response to self-antigens can result in progressive tissue injury and organ dysfunction. Common autoimmune diseases affecting people in Canada include Addison’s disease, lupus, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Autoinflammatory conditions, in contrast, are caused by genetic abnormalities that disrupt normal inflammatory pathways. Unlike autoimmune diseases, which often develop in adulthood, autoinflammatory disorders typically begin earlier in life. They are characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and systemic inflammation that can affect multiple parts of the body, including the joints, skin, and internal organs.
Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions represent another form of chronic inflammatory response. These reactions develop slowly, typically more than 12 hours after exposure to an antigen, and are mediated primarily by T cells. Although they play an important role in protecting the body against intracellular pathogens, excessive or inappropriate delayed-type hypersensitivity responses can lead to chronic inflammation. In many cases, they result in the formation of granulomas, which are organized clusters of immune cells that surround and attempt to contain the offending antigen.
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This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
