Connective Tissue Diseases

Connective Tissue Diseases By Carol Eustice Most people think that rheumatic diseases primarily affect the joints. In fact, rheumatic diseases affect the joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Pain, stiffness, and swelling are common symptoms associated with rheumatic diseases, but there can also be systemic effects with certain conditions. There are more than 200 diseases and conditions that affect connective tissue. It gets even more complicated because the connective tissue diseases can have overlapping symptoms. What Is Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)?  Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is an autoimmune disease with overlapping characteristics of three other connective tissue diseases. What are the three diseases? What should you know about MCTD? READ NOW What Is Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD)?  Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) are conditions that have some similarities to other systemic autoimmune or connective tissue diseases, but there are distinctions which make them different. READ NOW What Is Connective Tissue?  Connective tissue connects, supports, binds, and separates organs and tissues, forming a framework to support body tissues and organs, for structural and metabolic purposes. There are many diseases and conditions that affect connective tissue. READ NOW Types of Scleroderma (Systemic Sclerosis)  Often thought of as a single disease, scleroderma is actually a symptom of a group of diseases that are complicated by an abnormal growth of connective tissue. READ NOW Lupus - 10 Things You Should Know  In lupus, the immune system of the body attacks its own cells and tissues. Specifically, the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body may be affected. READ NOW Advertisement READ THESE NEXT Quiz: How Assertive Are You? Understanding Asthma Could You Have BPD? Quiz: What's Your Yoga Personality? Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Were You Affected by an Alcoholic Parent? Do You Have What It Takes to Pass Psychology 101? Are You More of an Extrovert or an Introvert? AN ABOUT.COM BRAND You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Arthritis & Joint Conditions newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 Verywell.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.