Connective tissue disease

In medicine and rheumatology, connective tissue diseases are "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., collagen, elastin, or the mucopolysaccharides."

Classification

Autoimmune disease

• Dermatomyositis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rheumatoid arthritis - 80% a positive rheumatoid factor (autoantibodies against gamma-chain immunoglobulins)
  • Sjogren's Syndrome - 60% have autoantibodies to SS-A antigen (Anti-Ro antigen) or SS-B antigen (Anti-La antigen)
• Scleroderma - most have antinuclear antibodies or autoantibodies to centromere or DNA topoisomerase I (Anti-Scl-70)

Cartilage disease

• Relapsing Polychondritis

Collagen disease

• Alport Syndrome
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta