BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuCollagen vascular diseaseIn a class of diseases known as autoimmune disorders, the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. Some of these diseases are similar to each other. They may involve arthritis and inflammation of arteries in the tissues. People who developed these disorders were previously said to have "connective tissue" or "collagen vascular" disease. We now have names for many specific conditions such as:Autoimmune disordersAn autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ankylosing spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitisAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic form of arthritis. It mostly affects the bones and joints at the base of the spine where it connects with t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dermatomyositis DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polyarteritis nodosa Polyarteritis nodosaPolyarteritis nodosa is a serious inflammatory blood vessel disease. The small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polymyositis Psoriatic arthritis Psoriatic arthritisPsoriatic arthritis is a joint problem (arthritis) that often occurs with a skin condition called psoriasis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a long-term disease. It can also aff...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mixed connective tissue disease Relapsing polychondritis VasculitisWhen a specific disease cannot be diagnosed, more general terms may be used. These are called undifferentiated systemic rheumatic (connective tissue) diseases or overlap syndromes. Open ReferencesReferencesGraf J. Overlap syndromes. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 91.Teegavarapu SP, Mims MP. Lymphocytosis, lymphocytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 50.AllVideoImagesTogDermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids - illustration This photograph demonstrates the sign heliotrope eyelids in which the eyelids develop a brown (violaceous - rather than red) color. Heliotrope eyelids and Gottron's papules on the knuckles are characteristic findings in dermatomyositis.Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelidsillustrationPolyarteritis - microscopic on the shin - illustration This is a picture of microscopic polyarteritis on the shin. The term polyarteritis means that many blood vessels are inflamed. These nodules are located just below the skin's surface (subcutaneous), are barely felt when pressing on the skin (palpable), and are tender. The skin is typically red (erythematous).Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shinillustrationSystemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face - illustration This is a photo of a systemic lupus erythematosis rash on the face. Lupus erythematosis often produces a butterfly rash or malar rash. Typically, the rash also appears on the nose.Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the faceillustrationSclerodactyly - illustration The most classic symptom of scleroderma is a type of skin tightening called sclerodactyly. The initial stages of the disease involves swelling of the fingers. Later, as the connective tissue becomes fibrotic, skin on the fingers and toes becomes hard and shiny. The fingers can become difficult to bend and can form contractures due to the severe tightening of the skin.SclerodactylyillustrationRheumatoid arthritis - illustration The affect of rheumatoid arthritis can progress to the degree that it is crippling. Deformities distinctive to late-stage rheumatoid arthritis such as ulnar deviation of the bones of the hands, or swan-neck deviation of the fingers occur because muscles and tendons on one side of the joint may overpower those on the other side, pulling the bones out of alignment.Rheumatoid arthritisillustrationDermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids - illustration This photograph demonstrates the sign heliotrope eyelids in which the eyelids develop a brown (violaceous - rather than red) color. Heliotrope eyelids and Gottron's papules on the knuckles are characteristic findings in dermatomyositis.Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelidsillustrationPolyarteritis - microscopic on the shin - illustration This is a picture of microscopic polyarteritis on the shin. The term polyarteritis means that many blood vessels are inflamed. These nodules are located just below the skin's surface (subcutaneous), are barely felt when pressing on the skin (palpable), and are tender. The skin is typically red (erythematous).Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shinillustrationSystemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face - illustration This is a photo of a systemic lupus erythematosis rash on the face. Lupus erythematosis often produces a butterfly rash or malar rash. Typically, the rash also appears on the nose.Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the faceillustrationSclerodactyly - illustration The most classic symptom of scleroderma is a type of skin tightening called sclerodactyly. The initial stages of the disease involves swelling of the fingers. Later, as the connective tissue becomes fibrotic, skin on the fingers and toes becomes hard and shiny. The fingers can become difficult to bend and can form contractures due to the severe tightening of the skin.SclerodactylyillustrationRheumatoid arthritis - illustration The affect of rheumatoid arthritis can progress to the degree that it is crippling. Deformities distinctive to late-stage rheumatoid arthritis such as ulnar deviation of the bones of the hands, or swan-neck deviation of the fingers occur because muscles and tendons on one side of the joint may overpower those on the other side, pulling the bones out of alignment.Rheumatoid arthritisillustrationA Closer Look Periodontal Disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Scleroderma - InDepth(In-Depth)Systemic lupus erythematosus - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Collagen vascular disease Blood differential testThoracentesisPleural needle biopsyRelated Information Rheumatoid arthritis(Condition)Systemic lupus erythematosus(Condition)Scleroderma(Condition)Dermatomyositis(Condition)Polyarteritis nodosa(Condition)Rheumatoid arthritis - InDepth(In-Depth)Systemic lupus erythematosus - InDepth(In-Depth)Scleroderma - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/25/2023 Reviewed By: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Collagen vascular diseaseIn a class of diseases known as autoimmune disorders, the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. Some of these diseases are similar to each other. They may involve arthritis and inflammation of arteries in the tissues. People who developed these disorders were previously said to have "connective tissue" or "collagen vascular" disease. We now have names for many specific conditions such as:Autoimmune disordersAn autoimmune disorder occurs when the body's immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 autoimmune d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Ankylosing spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitisAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic form of arthritis. It mostly affects the bones and joints at the base of the spine where it connects with t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dermatomyositis DermatomyositisDermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polyarteritis nodosa Polyarteritis nodosaPolyarteritis nodosa is a serious inflammatory blood vessel disease. The small and medium-sized arteries become swollen and damaged.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Polymyositis Psoriatic arthritis Psoriatic arthritisPsoriatic arthritis is a joint problem (arthritis) that often occurs with a skin condition called psoriasis.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It is a long-term disease. It can also aff...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosusSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mixed connective tissue disease Relapsing polychondritis VasculitisWhen a specific disease cannot be diagnosed, more general terms may be used. These are called undifferentiated systemic rheumatic (connective tissue) diseases or overlap syndromes. Open ReferencesReferencesGraf J. Overlap syndromes. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 91.Teegavarapu SP, Mims MP. Lymphocytosis, lymphocytopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 50.