Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease.
An autoimmune disease is a disease caused by the immune system attacking one’s own healthy tissues. Studies have previously shown that patients with ulcerative colitis, one type of IBD, had antibodies that attack the cells of the lining of the large intestines (colon). Similar autoimmune processes may also contribute to manifestations of IBD beyond the bowels, such as eye symptoms or joint pains in patients with IBD.