Systemic autoimmune diseases are a large group of disorders that have a primary pathogenic mechanism that involves the immune system acting on the host itself that leads to tissue destruction and organ dysfunction due to unregulated inflammation. These autoimmune disorders are called collagen vascular diseases or connective tissue diseases. Many autoimmune diseases also involve inflammation of blood vessels, or vasculitis.
The classic autoimmune collagen vascular diseases include:
Systemic lupus erythematosus, often referred to as lupus, involves inflammation of the connective tissues and blood vessels of virtually every organ system
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disorder in which immune cells attack and inflame the membrane around joints. In some patients, it also can affect the heart, lungs and eyes
Scleroderma produces scar tissue in the skin, internal organs and small blood vessels
Sjogren’s syndrome, also called Sjögren's disease, is a chronic, slowly progressing inability to secrete saliva and tears. It can occur alone or with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or lupus
Mixed connective tissue disease is a disorder that features signs and symptoms of various connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis, polymyositis and Sjögren’s syndrome. These diseases can coexist and overlap
Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that occurs in about one in 20 patients with psoriasis
Polyarteritis nodosa is a serious blood vessel disease in which small- and medium-sized arteries become inflamed and damaged
