Connective tissue is the material inside your body that supports many of its parts. It is the “cellular glue” that gives your tissues their shape and helps keep them strong. It also helps some of your tissues do their work. Cartilage and fat are examples of connective tissue.
There are over 200 disorders that impact connective tissue. Some, like cellulitis, are the result of an infection. Injuries can cause connective tissue disorders, such as scars. Others, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and osteogenesis imperfecta, are genetic. Still others, like scleroderma, have no known cause. Each disorder has its own symptoms and needs different treatment.
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What Are Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue?(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Connective_Tissue/connective_tissue_ff.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Tejido_conectivo/default.asp
- Questions and Answers about Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Connective_Tissue/default.asp
- Cutis Laxa(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch279/ch279b.html
- Dupuytren's Disease(American Society for Surgery of the Hand) - http://www.assh.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Hand_Conditions&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7608
- Limited Scleroderma (CREST Syndrome)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/crest-syndrome/DS00580/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Lipomas(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/763.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/763.printerview.html
- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/DS00675/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Mucopolysaccharidoses(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mucopolysaccharidoses/detail_mucopolysaccharidoses.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/las_mucopolisacaridosis.htm
- Mucopolysaccharidoses(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/mucopolysaccharidoses/mucopolysaccharidoses.htm
- Related Disorders: Introduction(National Marfan Foundation) - http://www.marfan.org/nmf/GetContentRequestHandler.do?menu_item_id=78
- Stickler Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stickler-syndrome/DS00831/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- What Is PXE (Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum)?(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1526
- PXE and Cardiology(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1490
- PXE and Dentistry(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1492
- PXE and the Vascular System(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1502
- PXE: Frequently Asked Questions(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1363
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What Is Cellulite?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/cellulite.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/cuerpo/cellulite_esp.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Connective Tissue Diseases(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Connective+Tissue+Diseases%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Mixed+Connective+Tissue+Disease%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Pseudoxanthoma+Elasticum%22
- NIH Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Pediatric_Diseases/default.asp
- Genetic Testing for PXE(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/view.asp?x=1686
- Genetics Home Reference: Achondrogenesis(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=achondrogenesis
- Genetics Home Reference: Congenital contractural arachnodactyly(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=congenitalcontracturalarachnodactyly
- Genetics Home Reference: Czech dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=czechdysplasia
- Genetics Home Reference: Hypochondrogenesis(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypochondrogenesis
- Genetics Home Reference: Kniest dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=kniestdysplasia
- Genetics Home Reference: Otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=otospondylomegaepiphysealdysplasia
- Genetics Home Reference: Platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia, Torrance type(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=platyspondyliclethalskeletaldysplasiatorrancetype
- Genetics Home Reference: Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, Strudwick type(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=spondyloepimetaphysealdysplasiastrudwicktype
- Genetics Home Reference: Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=spondyloepiphysealdysplasiacongenita
- Genetics Home Reference: Spondyloperipheral dysplasia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=spondyloperipheraldysplasia
- Genetics Home Reference: Stickler syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=sticklersyndrome
- Genetics Home Reference: Weill-Marchesani syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=weillmarchesanisyndrome
- Genetics Home Reference: Weissenbacher-Zweymüller syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=weissenbacherzweymullersyndrome
- Article: Autosomal recessive myosclerosis myopathy is a collagen VI disorder. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18852439&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Liver disease in alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency: a review. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18796107&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Efficacy of the detection of the alpha1-antitrypsin "Z" deficiency variant... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18794049&tool=MedlinePlus
- Connective Tissue Disorders -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(connective+tissue+diseases[majr:noexp]+OR+alpha+1+antitrypsin+deficiency[majr]+OR+collagen+diseases[majr]+OR+cutis+laxa[majr]+OR+dermatomyositis[majr]+OR+homocystinuria[majr]+OR+mixed+connective+tissue+disease[majr]+OR+mucinoses[majr]+OR+noonan+syndrome[majr]+OR+osteopoikilosis[majr]+OR+panniculitis[majr]+OR+pseudoxanthoma+elasticum[majr]+OR+dupuytren's+contracture[majr]+OR+mucopolysaccharidoses[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Connective tissue cancers -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=neoplasms,connective+tissue[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Genetics Terms(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1495
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Arthritis Foundation - http://www.arthritis.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.arthritis.org/espanol/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/
- PXE International, Inc. - http://www.pxe.org/
- Juvenile Arthritis: Disease Types(Arthritis Foundation) - http://www.arthritis.org/ja-disease-types.php
- PXE and Your Child(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1491
- PXE Frequently Asked Questions: Women's Issues(PXE International, Inc.) - http://www.pxe.org/english/View.asp?x=1436
- Cartilage Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cartilagedisorders.html
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ehlersdanlossyndrome.html
- Lupus - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/lupus.html
- Marfan Syndrome - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/marfansyndrome.html
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/osteogenesisimperfecta.html
- Scleroderma - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/scleroderma.html
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/softtissuesarcoma.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Connective Tissue Disorders is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/