CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES MEGAN DANIELL F 111 L

CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES MEGAN DANIELL F 111 L

INTRODUCTION • There are many types of connective tissue diseases. Your body is held together by tissue that connects all of the structures in your body. When you have a connective tissue disease, these connecting structures are negatively affected. Connective tissue is made up of two proteins: collagen and elastin. When a patient has a connective tissue disease, the collagen and elastin are inflamed. Next I will go over, and explain each disease.

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) • RA is one of the most common connective tissue diseases and can be inherited. RA is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks its own body. In this systemic disorder, immune cells attach and inflame the membrane around the joints. It also can affects the heart, lungs, and eyes. It affects many more women than men. (about 71% of cases)

SCLERODERMA • Scleroderma is a chronic disease that causes abnormal growth of connective tissue. It can affect the joints, skin, and internal organs. It is degenerative and gets worse over time. The disease can be in one area of the body. This is known as localized scleroderma. Or it may affect the whole body. This is known as systemic sclerosis. Scleroderma is more common in women.

LUPUS • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a disease that causes your body’s immune system to attack its own cells and tissues. It causes episodes of inflammation to various parts of the body. It can affect your joints, tendons, and skin. It can affect blood vessels. And it can affect organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. It can cause rashes, fatigue, pain, and fever. The heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain are the organs most affected. Severe lupus can cause harm to organs and other serious problems. • Lupus is a long-term (chronic) disease. It affects each person differently. The effects of the illness range from mild to severe. Symptoms of lupus may come and go. These are sometimes known as flare-ups, periods of remission, and relapse. Lupus has no cure, but medicines can help symptoms. And you can help manage lupus by living a healthy lifestyle and working with your healthcare provider. In children, lupus often attacks the kidneys. This can lead to kidney damage and kidney failure. In some cases, lupus can be fatal

CHURG-STRAUSS SYNDROME • Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder in which a person's body builds up a large number of antibodies that normally fight bacteria, viruses or irritating or potentially dangerous substances. Certain types of white blood cells tend to cluster in an abnormal way when a person has Churg-Strauss Syndrome. • The disease may affect many organs, especially the lungs. The blood vessels become swollen and tender (inflamed) and knobby lesions nodular lesions (granulomatosis) develop. • The disease is sometimes called allergic granulomatosis or allergic angiitis.

MARFAN SYNDROME • Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder of the connective tissue that causes abnormalities in the eyes, bone, heart and blood vessels.

POLYMYOSITIS/DERMATOMYOSITIS • A disease characterized by inflammation and degeneration of the muscle. When the condition also affects the skins, it’s called dermatomyositis • Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are disorders of the body's connective tissues, which include tendons, ligaments and the dense sheets of collagenbased tissue that cover the ends of the muscles. • These diseases cause swelling and tenderness in the muscles (polymyositis) and sometimes the skin (dermatomyositis). The disease causes weaknesses in the arms and legs.

SHARPS SYNDROME • A condition that has some, but not all, features of various connective tissue diseases, such as SLE, scleroderma, and polymyositis. MCTD may also have features of Raynaud’s syndrome.

UNDIFFERENTIATED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE(S) • Conditions that have characteristics of connective tissue diseases but do not meet the guidelines to be defined as a particular time. Some people with these conditions will eventually go on to develop a specific type of connective tissue disease, but most will not.

WHAT CAUSES CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES? • These conditions can be caused by family genetics and are often known as heritable disorders of connective tissue. Connective tissue diseases can also be caused by things that exist in the environment. Non-inherited causes of autoimmune types of connective tissue disease may include: • Exposure to toxic chemicals, such as those found in air pollution and cigarette smoke. • Exposure to ultraviolet light • Inadequate nutrition, including lack of vitamin D and C. • Infections

WHAT ABOUT SYMPTOMS? ! • Because there are so many different kinds of connective tissue diseases, symptoms may vary and may affect different parts of the body. Body parts that may be affected include: • Difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Cough with bloody phlegm • Chest discomfort or pain • Reparatory failure.

SYMPTOMS CONTINUED • Other symptoms not including the lungs may include: • Swelling of the fingers • White fingertips • Numb fingertips • Joint pain or weakness • Muscle weakness

LETS TALK DIAGNOSIS! • Some testing to find out if you have a connective tissue disease may include; • Imaging tests, x-ray and MRI • Tests for markers of inflammation. Such as CRP, ESR • Test for antibodies • Tests fro dry eyes or dry mouth. • Blood and urine tests • Tissue biopsy

TREATMENT • Because there are so many connective tissue disorders, the treatments wil vary depending on the person and what they have. Treatments may include; • Vitamin supplements • Physical therapy • Mediation You will probably have regular schedule of appointments with your doctor. You might be asked to consult with a specialist, depending on the disorder.

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IF… • You should contact your health care provider if you have new or worsening symptoms, including” • Skin changes, such as changes of color or texture. • Vision changes • Pain • Feeling sick • Muscle weakness

WORK CITED • https: //my. clevelandclinic. org/health/diseases/14803 -connective-tissuediseases • https: //www. cedars-sinai. edu/Patients/Health-Conditions/Connective. Tissue-Disorders. aspx