Fatigue Disorders: Connective Tissue Disorder

Connective Tissue Disorders are illnesses that affect the connective tissues in the body. Connective tissues are supporting tissue that surrounds other tissues and organs.

Some inherited diseases that affect the connective tissues include:

Marfan Syndrome

- Can have tissue abnormalities in the heart, aorta, lungs, eyes, and skeleton.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

- Can have loose, flexible skin and joints

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum

- An inherited disorder of elastin

The classic immune-related connective tissue diseases include:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Systematic Lupus

Scleroderma

Polymyositis

Dermatomyositis

Symptoms of Connective Tissue Disorder:
Symptoms will depend upon the type of illness associated. Some symptoms include:

Bone growth problems

Loose skin

Fatigue

Fibromyalgia

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Skin issues – loose skin, stretchy skin, blistered skin, skin folds

IBS

Finger swelling and joint pain

Raynaud’s symptoms

General malaise

Symptoms specific to diseases within CTD

Diagnosing Connective Tissue Disorder
Connective tissue disorders are diagnosed when patients demonstrate the clinical features (exam findings) of overlap illnesses (as described above) and have high amounts of the antibodies ANA and anti-RNP in their blood

Treating Connective Tissue Disorder
Again, treatment will depend on the type of illness within CTD that is being treated. Therapies must be targeted for each of the organ systems affected. In general, treatment is often directed at suppressing the inflammation present in the tissues by using anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications.

Complications of Connective Tissue Disorder:
Complications of connective tissue disease are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by connective tissue disease. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of connective tissue disease and complications of connective tissue disease is unclear.

Raynaud’s phenomenon

Sclerosis of skin

Arthropathy

Autoantibodies

Prognosis of Connective Tissue Disorder:
The prognosis for patients who have connective tissue disease varies from a benign course to severe progressive disease. In approximately one third of patients the clinical symptoms go into long-term remission.

One third of patients have a severe, progressive disease course. Persistent morbidity often is attributable to arthritis, easy fatiguability, and dyspnea on exertion.

The most severe clinical manifestation is pulmonary hypertension which contributes to premature death in patients with conntective tissue disorders.

Resources for Patients
Connective Tissue Disorder Site
Lupus Foundation of America
Healthline

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