Connective Tissue Disease

Connective tissue diseases (aka connective tissue disorders) are a collection of disorders based on what they affect. Tendons, ligaments, cartilage and fascia are all types of connective tissue found in the musculoskeletal system and important for mobility. Most types of connective tissue disease fall into another category, autoimmune disease. The immune system uses antibodies and other types of cells and mechanisms to combat disease. Most connective tissue diseases occur when part of the immune response starts attacking collagen or elastin (major components of connective tissue). Examples of a connective tissue disease include Scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, some forms of lupus, and polymyositis. Since connective tissue diseases have different causes, treatment varies based on etiology. Some diseases are genetic while others may occur for unknown or unrelated reasons. When breast implants first became popular, many women who had silicone gel leaked into their system experienced health problems including various connective tissue diseases.