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• Connective Tissue Disorders in Children
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There are over 200 disorders that involve connective tissue. Certain disorders are characterized by overactivity of the immune system with resulting inflammation and systemic damage to the tissues (eg, SLE [see Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)] and juvenile idiopathic arthritis [formerly known as juvenile RA—see Joint Disorders: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)]). Other disorders involve biochemical abnormalities or structural defects of the connective tissue. Some of these disorders are inherited, and some are of unknown etiology.

Last full review/revision February 2008 by Frank Pessler, MD, PhD; David D. Sherry, MD

Content last modified February 2008