Connective tissue disease

Connective tissue diseases are a group of disorders involving connective tissues, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis), giant cell arteritis, and Sjögren's syndrome. These diseases are characterized by a prolonged course and complex clinical manifestations, often accompanied by fever, joint pain, vasculitis, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and increased gamma globulin levels.