Collagen vascular disease
In 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:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Dermatomyositis
- Polyarteritis nodosa
- Polymyositis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Relapsing polychondritis
- Vasculitis
When a specific disease cannot be diagnosed, more general terms may be used. These are called undifferentiated systemic rheumatic (connective tissue) diseases or overlap syndromes.
References
Graf 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.
Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids - illustration
Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids
illustration
Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shin - illustration
Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shin
illustration
Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face - illustration
Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face
illustration
Sclerodactyly - illustration
Sclerodactyly
illustration
Rheumatoid arthritis - illustration
Rheumatoid arthritis
illustration
Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids - illustration
Dermatomyositis - heliotrope eyelids
illustration
Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shin - illustration
Polyarteritis - microscopic on the shin
illustration
Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face - illustration
Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face
illustration
Sclerodactyly - illustration
Sclerodactyly
illustration
Rheumatoid arthritis - illustration
Rheumatoid arthritis
illustration
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.