Connective tissue diseases

Introduction

Connective tissue diseases are caused by problems with collagen (a group of support structures) and can have a vascular component. They are thus also called collagen vascular diseases. Many connective tissue diseases share common signs and symptoms and can be hard to tell apart.

Topics on DermNet about connective tissue diseases

• Antisynthetase syndrome
• Dermatomyositis
• Discoid lupus erythematosus

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Eosinophilic fasciitis
• Erythema multiforme
• Erythema nodosum
• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Morphoea
• Raynaud disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scleroderma (localised)
• Scleroderma
• Scleroedema
• Scleromyxoedema
• Sjögren syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Systemic sclerosis
• Vasculitis

Tests for connective tissue diseases

• Direct immunofluorescence
• Indirect immunofluorescence
• Discoid lupus erythematosus pathology
  
• Rheumatoid nodule pathology