Collagen vascular disease refers to a group of diseases that
affect your connective tissue. Collagen is a protein-based
connective tissue that forms a support system for your skin. The
connective tissue holds bones, ligaments, and muscles together.
Collagen vascular disease is sometimes also called connective
tissue disease. Some disorders classified as collagen vascular
diseases affect your joints, skin, blood vessels, or other vital
organs. Symptoms vary according to the specific disease.
Examples of collagen vascular disease include: - rheumatoid
arthritis - temporal arteritis Collagen vascular disease is an
autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system
mistakenly attacks your body’s healthy tissue. The attacks are
usually in the form of inflammation. In this case, your immune
system causes inflammation in the collagen and nearby joints.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the cause of the
attacks is not known (NIH, 2011). Several collagen vascular
diseases, including lupus, scleroderm