DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The Immune Mystery

A Doctor's Impassioned Quest to Solve the Puzzle of Autoimmune Disease

Anita Dr Kss author Jrgen Jelstad author Alison McCullough translator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Greystone Books,Canada

Published:24th Jun '21

Should be back in stock very soon

The Immune Mystery cover

International public relations campaign Influencer outreach Cross-promotion with medical and autoimmune disease associations Representation at international conferences and trade shows Digital and print advertising campaign

A page-turning and powerful medical mystery for readers of Diagnosis by Lisa Sanders and The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper
A page-turning and powerful medical mystery for readers of Diagnosis by Lisa Sanders and The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper

More than 20 million Americans have autoimmune diseases, which occur when the immune system attacks the body. Autoimmune diseases are often misdiagnosed by doctors and overlooked by medical researchers. Almost all affect women more often than men.

The Immune Mystery follows doctor and researcher Anita Kåss’s quest to solve the autoimmune puzzle, beginning with the premature death of her mother, who developed rheumatoid arthritis shortly after giving birth to Anita. As a child, Anita vowed to study the illness and one day find a cure.

Becoming a respected doctor and researcher, Anita devoted herself to studying auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Why do so many autoimmune diseases start to show symptoms during and after childbirth, perimenopause, and menopause? Could autoimmune diseases be linked to our changing hormones?

Despite the groundbreaking nature of her research, Anita had to fight for her ideas against the conventional wisdom and casual sexism of the medical industry—even as she made a discovery that earned her a record-breaking US$95 million pharmaceutical deal.

A compelling blend of incredible determination and cutting-edge science, The Immune Mystery changes the way we think about autoimmune diseases. Anita offers solace to patients struggling with questions about their health, and introduces a powerful new voice in medical storytelling.


“An impressive account of an ambitious medical researcher and her struggles…. Kåss watched her mother suffer from the debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis; she died when the author was in her early teens. After performing brilliantly in medical school, Kåss devoted her life to the study of autoimmune diseases, bravely stepping into a male-dominated field that garners far less attention than other areas of research….Good popular science combined with a moving memoir.”
Kirkus Reviews

ISBN: 9781771645508

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

240 pages