Connective Tissue Diseases

Connective tissue diseases that are strictly due to genetic inheritance include Marfan syndrome (can have tissue abnormalities in the heart, aorta, lungs, eyes, and skeleton) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (many types may have loose, ...

Connective Tissue Diseases
A disease, which is any type of abnormal condition accompanied by symptoms that has a negative consequence to the body, can affect practically any part of the body, systems, tissues, cells, and organs included.

Connective Tissue Diseases - A heterogeneous group of disorders, some hereditary, others acquired, characterized by abnormal structure or function of one or more of the elements of connective tissue, i.e.

Other connective tissue diseases. Diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and Sjogren's syndrome can occur in combination with polymyositis.
Cardiovascular disease. The muscle of your heart may become inflamed (myocarditis).

Connective tissue diseases. (Connective tissue helps support all parts of your body, including your skin, eyes, and heart.)
HIV infection.
Liver disease.
Congenital heart disease. This is heart disease that's present at birth.
Sickle cell disease.

Connective tissue diseases are disorders featuring abnormalities involving the collagen and elastin. Connective tissue diseases are often characterized by a variety of immune abnormalities that are common for each particular type of illness.

Connective tissue diseases can have strong or weak inheritance risks, and can also be caused by environmental factors.
[edit] Heritable Connective Tissue Disorders ...

Connective tissue diseases:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Diseases and other conditions: ...

Other autoimmune connective tissue diseases
Diabetes. Patients with diabetes may develop Raynaud's phenomenon and other scleroderma-like symptoms.
Certain drugs including bleomycin, ergot derivatives (used for migraines), and methysergide ...

Medical history - people with other connective tissue diseases, such as scleroderma, are at greater risk of polymyositis.
Physical examination - including general tests.

I might also mention that another term that is used to describe this group of diseases is the "autoimmune connective tissue diseases." Another term that has been used in the past to describe these diseases is "collagen vascular diseases.

Connective tissue diseases are the most common cause of Raynaud's syndrome. Some of these diseases reduce blood flow to the digits by causing blood vessel walls to thicken and the vessels to constrict too easily.

Other causes include injury (trauma), hypertension, connective tissue diseases, ocular infection, exposure to x-rays, certain drugs and (e.g., corticosteroids, diuretics, thiamine's), and diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

Other specific diagnostic tests are determined by the clinical findings (particularly travel history) and may include chest x-ray, urinalysis, liver and kidney function tests, and serologic tests for parasitic and connective tissue diseases.

These are called connective tissue diseases and include: rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, lupus, scleroderma, Behcet's disease, anklylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and B-27 disease.

In the past 15 years, however, more than 100 studies conducted on the safety of silicone gel-filled breast implants in the United States and around the world found no increased risk of connective tissue diseases (like scleroderma), ...

Pulmonary hypertension usually occurs along with another disease or condition, such as pregnancy, heart and blood vessel diseases, lung diseases, liver diseases, sleep apnea, connective tissue diseases such as lupus and scleroderma, thyroid diseases, ...

It is important to rule out underlying conditions such as neoplastic disorders, endocrine disorders, connective tissue diseases, infections, and other disorders.

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) - This test checks blood levels of antibodies that are often present in people who have connective tissue diseases or other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus.

Diagnosing scleroderma can be very difficult especially during the early stages because it is often mistaken for other connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Is not recommended for people who have serious connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma.
Should not be done on women who are pregnant. Radiation can harm the fetus.

The primary form of MVP is seen frequently in persons with Marfan's Syndrome or other inherited connective tissue diseases, but is most often seen in persons with no other form of heart disease.
secondary MVP ...

Other important disease states associated with PH include connective tissue diseases (scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), sarcoidosis, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, sickle cell disease and bone marrow disorders.

Connective tissue diseases are inflammatory multisystem diseases characterised by evidence of autoimmunity (e.g. antibodies to cellular components) in which there are often prominent signs of involvement of the joints and other parts of the locomotor ...

There are a number of conditions that predispose a person to develop defects of the inner lining, including high blood pressure, Marfan's disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, connective tissue diseases, ...

This is diffuse or limited systemic sclerosis with features of one or more of the other connective tissue diseases.

Scleroderma relates to rheumatic diseases as well as connective tissue diseases. Conditions related to rheumatic diseases include inflammation or pain in the joints, muscles or fibrous tissues.

Blood tests to check for connective tissue diseases
Bronchoscopy with biopsy
Chest x-ray
CT scan of the chest
Lung biopsy
Measurement of the blood oxygen level at rest or during exertion
Pulmonary function tests ...

Blood vessel diseases such as polyarteritis nodosa
Connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus
Diabetes mellitus
Connective tissue disease is the most common cause of mononeuritis multiplex in children.

characterised by dryness of mucous membranes, primary Sjogren syndrome: without underlying autoimmune disease, recurrent parotitis in children, sicca syndrome (xerophthalmia and xerostomia), secondary Sjogren syndrome: connective tissue diseases (RA, ...

Other diseases which may cause lung fibrosis include:
Connective tissue diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus)
Granulomatous diseases - Tuberculosis , sarcoid, extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Babies and Children, Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases, Fungal Diseases, Tinea
Picture & text from CDC/PHIL. For more information see Ringworm Pictures from CDC ...

Patients can have overlap syndromes that involve any combination of the connective tissue diseases. Therefore, patients can have a combination, for example, of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (hence, the coined name "rhupus").

Acrocyanosis may be a sign of a more serious and larger medical problem, such as connective tissue diseases and diseases associated with central cyanosis.
Incidence, prevalence, and epidemiology ...

Other less common causes of vertebrobasilar vascular disorders include connective tissue diseases and vasculitis.
Pictures & Images
Vertebral column ...

Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon is caused by another disease or condition and is a more serious disorder. It usually affects both hands or both feet. Connective tissue diseases are the most common cause.

These include Alport syndrome, which is a rare kidney disease that causes kidney failure and hearing loss; lupus erythematosus; connective tissue diseases; kidney cancer; liver disease (cirrhosis); polycystic kidney disease; ...

The causes of arthritis in children include juvenile idiopathic arthritis, known in the United States as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis secondary to connective tissue diseases, infective arthritis, reactive arthritis, ...

Heart attack , heart failure, or infections such as pericarditis , recent cardiac surgery
Inflammation or infection of the pleura
Liver disease
Tumors
Pregnancy, recent delivery
Connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus ...

Severe trauma that can not be repaired
Complications of diabetes
Untreatable bone infection ( osteomyelitis )
Malignant tumor
Congenital deformity (present at birth)
Severe frostbite
Complications of connective tissue diseases, such as: ...

These may include pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung tumors, and lung cancer. A blood clot in the lung, called a pulmonary embolus, can result in pleurisy. Other causes include viral infections of the pleura and connective tissue diseases such as ...

system has launched a misdirected attack on your own healthy tissue — in other words, an autoimmune reaction. Because connective tissue is often the target of autoimmune reactions, the resulting diseases are known as connective tissue diseases.

Some rheumatic diseases involve connective tissues (called connective tissue diseases), while others may be caused by autoimmune disorders, which are diseases involving the body's immune system attacking its own healthy cells and tissues.

fibrosis (scarring) of the flap surface, thinning or lengthening of the chordae tendineae, and fibrin deposits on the flaps. The primary form of MVP is seen frequently in persons with Marfan's Syndrome or other inherited connective tissue diseases, ...

from cutaneous mast cells; binding of IgG or IgM to antigen, resulting in complement activation; and such disorders as localized or secondary infection (respiratory tract infection), neoplastic disease (Hodgkin's disease), connective tissue diseases ...

Evidence indicates that the condition is sometimes familial, suggesting autosomal dominant inheritance. In other cases, MVP occurs in association with certain inherited connective tissue diseases, other heart abnormalities, ...

made after looking at the whole person, taking into account their symptoms, physical examination, and blood tests. This may involve seeing a specialist - usually a rheumatologist, who is a doctor specialising in joint and connective tissue diseases.

People with diabetes have been reported to be at increased risk of DCM. DCM can also be triggered by alcohol abuse, infections, exposure to certain drugs and toxins, nutritional deficiencies, connective tissue diseases, hereditary disorders, ...

It often occurs with rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue diseases.
Permalink for Sjögren syndrome
SJG-136 A substance that is being studied in the treatment of cancer.

The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. A Rheumatologist is also concerned with connective tissue diseases
Rhinitis ...

It may be first sign of autoimmune connective tissue diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, Systemic Lupus or Rheumatoid Arthritis. This condition is difficult to treat.

It may also cause inflammation in the joints, muscles, and skin; pneumonia; tingling in the fingers and toes; and fatigue. It often occurs with rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue diseases.

People with connective tissue diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also develop dry eye.

Vaccines, RSV, Parathyroid Cancer, Pilar Cyst, Polarized Light Microscopy, Predictive Value of Tests, Bacterial Venereal Disease, Blood Cell, Red, Blood Volume Determinations, Radiation Sensitivities, Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases, Stenoses, ...

This is the most common cause of aortic stenosis in people over the age of 65.
Other causes of aortic valve disease include: heart attacks, syphilis, hypertension, aortic aneurysms, connective tissue diseases, and less commonly, tumors, ...

See also: Symptom, Lupus, Rheum, Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis