Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related arthritic disorder and is characterized by aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) content and surface disruptions that range from fibrillation, clefting and delamination, leading…
Abstract Antibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPAs) are specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ACPA-positive RA is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting from the complex interaction between genetic (mainly HLA class II…
Abstract Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a relatively common autoimmune systemic rheumatic disease. In addition to sicca syndrome and swollen salivary glands, systemic features manifest in the majority of patients,…
Abstract The concept of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) as a separate connective tissue disease (CTD) has persisted for more than four decades. High titers of antibodies targeting the U1…
Abstract Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis of the elderly. The diagnosis can be challenging at times because of the limitation of the American Rheumatology Association (ARA)…
Abstract Knowledge on idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) has evolved with the identification of myositis-associated and myositis-specific antibodies, development of histopathological classification and the recognition of how these correlate with clinical…
Abstract Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by the occurrence of thrombosis (arterial and/or venous), often multiple, and/or pregnancy morbidity. Thrombosis is one of the major disease mechanisms,…
Abstract Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a major cause of pain and disability in patients with autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs), particularly systemic sclerosis (SSc). The clinician must perform a comprehensive…
Abstract It is well documented that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease. There is evidence that traditional risk factors and…
Abstract Autoimmune connective tissue diseases predominantly affect women and often occur during the reproductive years. Thus, specialized issues in pregnancy planning and management are commonly encountered in this patient population….
