Autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system attacks the body. I have rheumatoid arthritis so I was interested in reading Dr. Anita Kass' book. Her mother was a victim of rheumatoid arthritis and died when Anita was 13 years old. At that time, Anita vowed to study the illness and one day find a cure. She became a doctor and dedicated herself to decades long research into the causes of autoimmune disorders.