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INTRODUCTION

The collagen vascular diseases comprise lupus erythematosus, the scleroderma spectrum of diseases, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), dermatomyositis (and polymyositis), and various other rarer autoimmune disorders. They are also termed ‘connective tissue diseases’, but technically this term includes structural disorders of collagen, elastic, etc. (Ch.22) and may therefore be confusing. All the collagen vascular diseases are potentially of general medical importance, having both cutaneous and systemic manifestations, and all may have vasculitic manifestations (vasculitis is discussed more fully in Ch.14).

    Raynaud phenomenon may occur in several of these disorders, and is therefore discussed initially.

White/Cox: Diseases of the Skin, 2ed.(c) 2006, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.