Immune mediated disease

Immune mediated indicates that the immune system is involved in the genesis of disease. Immune mediated diseases can be due to a foreign antigens (viruses, drugs) acting as haptens, adhering to or altering the surface of cells so that antibodies form against the hapten - cell complex or against cell antigens that become exposed. True autoimmunity indicates that the immune system is damaging unaltered "self". Often it is not possible to differentiate between true autoimmunity and immune mediated diseases.