Introduction to inflammatory connective tissue diseases

The inflammatory connective tissue diseases are a group of chronic diseases characterised by systemic inflammation (probably of autoimmune pathogenesis) and perpetuated by unknown factors (probably both genetic and environmental). The inflammatory connective tissue diseases are covered individually and include:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in adults and in children and adolescents
• Sjögren syndrome
• Systemic sclerosis
• Mixed connective tissue disease
• Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, including Juvenile dermatomyositis and Adult dermatomyositis.

See individual topics for more comprehensive information on each.