Any disease of the connective tissue.
Any of several disorders (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, arteritis nodosa, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus) marked by disruption of connective tissue. Sometimes called collagen vascular disease.
Disease of the connective tissue, which is an essential part of every structure in the body. Collagen diseases are sometimes referred to as connective tissue diseases, immunologic rheumatic diseases, or autoimmune disorders. The characteristic symptom of all the disorders in this group is the inflammation that damages the connective tissues of the body, many of which are composed of collagen. With collagen diseases, the body’s antibodies begin to attack the affected person’s own body cells and their components, instead of attacking bacteria, viruses, and other invaders as antibodies normally do.