Collagen vascular diseases and cutaneous drug reactions

Abstract

Collagen vascular diseases (CVD) are a collection of autoimmune diseases in which a defect in the immune system causes the body to recognize its own structural proteins, primarily collagen, as foreign, resulting in selfdirected immune responses. Tissues composed of various forms of collagen are often affected, including arteries, tendons, and other connective tissues. For this reason, CVD is sometimes called connective tissue disease. Environmental triggers of CVD include infections, pollutants, radiation, and medications. This chapter identifies various medications that induce or exacerbate a particular CVD, as well as the manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment options thereof. The CVD subtypes discussed in this chapter are subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), dermatomyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, and scleroderma. Other autoimmune diseases often classified as collagen vascular diseases not treated in this chapter include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.