What is a connective tissue disorder?
A connective tissue disease is any disease that affects the parts of the body that connect the structures of the body together. Connective tissues are made up of two proteins: collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein found in the tendons, ligaments, skin, cornea, cartilage, bone and blood vessels.
What are the 3 connective tissue disorders?
There are many different types of connective tissue disorders, including:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Scleroderma.
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)
- Churg-Strauss syndrome.
- Lupus.
- Microscopic polyangiitis.
- Polymyositis/dermatomyositis.
- Marfan syndrome.
Is connective tissue disorder serious?
Mixed connective tissue disease can lead to serious complications, some of which can be fatal. Complications include: High blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). This condition is a major cause of death in people with mixed connective tissue disease.
What is the life expectancy of someone with connective tissue disease?
The overall 10-year survival rate of the disease is about 80%. Some people have symptom-free periods lasting for many years with no treatment. Despite treatment, the disease gets worse in about 13% of people and can cause potentially fatal complications in six to 12 years.
What are the diseases of connective tissue?
Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) Overview. Connective tissue diseases are complex illnesses that can affect any part of the body, such as dermatomyositis/polymyositis, lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Sjogren’s.
What is the treatment for connective tissue disease?
Treatment of connective tissue disease. Generally connective tissue disease is treated with anti-inflammatory and immuno suppressive drugs. The intensity of the treatment depends on the severity of the disease.
What is the test for connective tissue disease?
Because connective tissue disorders can have symptoms similar to other conditions, diagnostic tests will help rule out other causes and confirm a diagnosis. These tests may include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain and spinal cord and a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap.
What is connect tissue disorder?
Connective tissue disease refers to a group of disorders involving the protein-rich tissue that supports organs and other parts of the body. Examples of connective tissue are fat, bone, and cartilage. These disorders often involve the joints, muscles, and skin, but they can also involve other organs and organ systems,…