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Connective tissue disease
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<p>Connective tissue disease, also known as connective tissue disorder, or collagen vascular diseases, refers to any <a href="/facts/Disease/55eeQlGL">disorder</a> that affects the <a href="/facts/Connective_tissue/mal3fc7k">connective tissue</a>. The body's structures are held together by connective tissues, consisting of two distinct <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">proteins</a>: <a href="/facts/Elastin/9S2w5thw">elastin</a> and <a href="/facts/Collagen/KsyAb72K">collagen</a>. <a href="/facts/Tendon/M0Kdf7Fy">Tendons</a>, <a href="/facts/Ligament/xAf6lB1z">ligaments</a>, <a href="/facts/Skin/4havlLzG">skin</a>, <a href="/facts/Cartilage/vxy2qzKN">cartilage</a>, <a href="/facts/Bone/kwJaR6IQ">bone</a>, and <a href="/facts/Blood_vessel/FG3GjPNW">blood vessels</a> are all made of collagen. Skin and ligaments contain elastin. The proteins and the body's surrounding tissues may suffer damage when these connective tissues become <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflamed</a>. </p><p>The two main categories of connective tissue diseases are (1) a set of relatively rare <a href="/facts/Genetic_disorder/hFqt2NLn">genetic disorders</a> affecting the primary structure of connective tissue, and (2) a variety of acquired diseases where the connective tissues are the site of multiple, more or less distinct immunological and inflammatory reactions. </p><p>Diseases in which inflammation or weakness of collagen tends to occur are also referred to as <a href="/facts/Collagen_disease/Y6CUcbSp">collagen diseases</a>. <a href="/facts/Collagen_vascular_disease/ST6bwhxb">Collagen vascular diseases</a> can be (but are not necessarily) associated with collagen and blood vessel abnormalities that are <a href="/facts/Autoimmune/5cASmcfI">autoimmune</a> in nature. </p><p>Some connective tissue diseases have strong or weak <a href="/facts/Heredity/t0aMmRWx">genetic inheritance</a> risks. Others may be due to environmental factors, or a combination of genetic and environmental influences. </p>