Connective Tissue Disease Specialist

What is connective tissue disease?

Connective tissue disease is a general term that refers to conditions that affect your connective tissue, which includes your cartilage, tendons, skin, bone, and blood vessels. Your connective tissue contains the proteins collagen and elastin. If you have a connective tissue disease, these proteins are inflamed.  

What are the types of connective tissue disease?

There are more than 200 connective tissue diseases. Some of the most common include:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack and damage the tissue that lines your joints. It’s one of the most common connective tissue diseases and can lead to permanent joint and tissue damage.

Lupus

Lupus is a connective tissue disease that leads to the inflammation of tissue throughout your body, including your kidneys, lungs, brain, and skin. It’s significantly more common in women than men.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes scar tissue to develop in various parts of your body, including your skin and internal organs. Like lupus, scleroderma is more common in women than men.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which your body’s immune system attacks the connective tissue in your joints, including your cartilage and tendons, leading to inflammation and pain.

Vasculitis

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Churg Strauss Vasculitis), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) are also types of autoimmune rheumatic diseases that affect your blood vessels.

How are connective tissue diseases diagnosed?

Diagnosis of a connective tissue disease can be difficult. In most cases, there’s no single test that can diagnose the condition. The Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC team conducts comprehensive examinations when you come to the office with concerns about your health to identify the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Your examination may include:

• Review of your symptoms
• Discussion of your medical and family history
• Physical exam
• Blood work
• Urinalysis

Your doctor may also recommend specialized diagnostic testing to more closely evaluate the affected tissue, such as an X-ray or MRI.

How are connective tissue diseases treated?

Treatment for your connective tissue disease depends on the type of disease you have. Your specialist creates a personalized treatment plan to reduce your symptoms and improve your health. Treatment may include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Disease-specific medication
• Biologics
• Steroids
• Therapy

Your specialist at Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC works one-on-one with you to ensure you get the best possible care and management of your disease.

For answers to your health questions from a team of experts, call Rheumatology and Allergy Institute of Connecticut, LLC or schedule an appointment online today.