Connective Tissue Disorders Summary 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. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Encyclopedia Achondrogenesis Diagnosis and Tests ANA (Antinuclear Antibody Test) American Association for Clinical Chemistry Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) American College of Rheumatology Find an Expert Arthritis Foundation Arthritis Foundation National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Connective Tissue Diseases National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease National Institutes of Health ClinicalTrials.gov: Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum National Institutes of Health NIH Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Specifics Cutis Laxa Merck & Co., Inc. Ganglion Cyst American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Ganglion Cysts American Society for Surgery of the Hand Lipoma Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Marfan Foundation Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Stickler Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease National Jewish Health What Is PXE (Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum)? PXE International, Inc. Array Dupuytrens contracture Genetics Genetic Testing and PXE PXE International, Inc. Genetics Home Reference: achondrogenesis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: arterial tortuosity syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: congenital contractural arachnodactyly National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: cutis laxa National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Czech dysplasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: hypochondrogenesis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Kniest dysplasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Loeys-Dietz syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: otospondylomegaepiphyseal dysplasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: platyspondylic lethal skeletal dysplasia, Torrance type National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: pseudoxanthoma elasticum National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, Strudwick type National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: spondyloperipheral dysplasia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Stickler syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: systemic scleroderma National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Weill-Marchesani syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Weissenbacher-Zweymüller syndrome National Library of Medicine Start Here Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Journal Articles Connective tissue cancers Connective tissue disorders
