Over 70 volunteers operate the nonprofit International Scleroderma Network (ISN), delivering research, support, education and awareness! Our services include this Scleroderma from A to Z website at www.sclero.org, (with 1200+ pages in 22 languages), the Voices of Scleroderma book series, medical advisory, membership, research fund and support services. YOU can make a difference: Join and support our worldwide initiative to tackle scleroderma now!

Vasculitis is a general term for a group of uncommon diseases that feature inflammation of the blood vessels. The blood vessels of the body are referred to as the vascular system. The blood vessels are composed of arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins that return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs for oxygen. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation in and damage to the walls of various blood vessels.

© Arthritis Research Campaign 2004. All rights reserved. Published December 2004. Medical advice or information last amended: October 2005. Useful addresses checked/amended: October 2005

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle weakness." With current therapies, however, most cases of myasthenia gravis are not as "grave" as the name implies. In fact, for the majority of individuals with myasthenia gravis, life expectancy is not lessened by the disorder.

If you, or someone you love, has received the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjogren's Disease, Goodpasture's Syndrome, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Temporal Arteritis / Giant Cell Arteritis, Type I Diabetes Mellitus, Hashimoto's Thyroditis, Graves' Disease, Celiac Disease, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Epstein-Barr Syndrome, Addison's Disease, Primary Biliary Sclerosis, Primary Bilary Cirrhosis, Sclerosing Cholangitis, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Raynaud's Phenomenon or any of the other eighty autoimmune disease, this website is for you. And, even though it may look like it, HealthyDivas.com is not just for females. Men need to know this information too!

This is a rare disorder characterized by livedoid eruption and cerebrovascular defects. There is a distinct association with the Antiphospholipid Antibody syndrome and Lupus erythematosus. Indeed, some investigators believe that this syndrome is a variant of the Antiphophospholipid Antibody Syndrome. Last Updated 12/11/2001

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which immune cells attack and destroy the glands that produce tears and saliva. Sjogren's syndrome is also associated with rheumatic disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. The hallmark symptoms of the disorder are dry mouth and dry eyes. In addition, Sjogren's syndrome may cause skin, nose, and vaginal dryness, and may affect other organs of the body including the kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, liver, pancreas, and brain. Last updated January 25, 2006

Published/Last Reviewed: August 15, 2005

Copyright © 2006 by the American College of Physicians. 20 June 2006 | Volume 144 Issue 12 | Pages 877-883. Conclusions: Asthma status may affect the prevalence of major autoimmune disorders. Preexisting asthma seems to protect against the development of autoimmune disorders to varying degrees in men and women.

Last Updated: January 18, 2006. Livedoid vasculopathy (LV), or livedoid vasculitis, is a disease characterized by ulceration of the lower extremities. It can evolve into a dermatologic finding termed atrophie blanche (AB). LV is a distinct condition that is not usually the result of other diseases, as Jorizzo elegantly noted in 1998.

The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association is dedicated to the eradication of autoimmune diseases and the alleviation of suffering and the socioeconomic impact of autoimmunity through fostering and facilitating collaboration in the areas of education, research, and patient services in an effective, ethical and efficient manner.

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 2006;77:290-295; doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.075861. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterised by multifocal areas of demyelination in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Autoantibodies, for example antinuclear antibodies, can also be present. MS and other demyelinating processes, such as transverse myelitis and optic neuritis (which may be clinically isolated cases or be part of the clinical spectrum of MS), are sometimes difficult to differentiate from CNS involvement in systemic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), Sjoegren's syndrome (SS), and Adamantiades-Behcet disease (BD). An acute isolated neurological syndrome presents the biggest diagnostic problem, since it is common in MS, but can also be the only feature or first manifestation in SLE, APS, SS, and BD. Indeed, the clinical presentation and lesions evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging may be similar.

Thyroid 13(1):45-56, 2003. © 2003 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Posted 06/04/2003 Registration Required.

reproduced from an article by The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Reviewed June 6, 2001

Raynaud's disease and Raynaud's phenomenon are rare disorders that affect blood vessels. These disorders are marked by brief episodes of vasospasm (narrowing of the blood vessels). Vasospasm causes decreased blood flow to the fingers and toes, and rarely to the nose, ears, nipples, and lips. The fingers are the most commonly affected area, but the toes also are affected in 40 percent of people with Raynaud's. When this disorder occurs without any known cause, it is called Raynaud's disease, or primary Raynaud's. When the condition occurs along with a likely cause, it is known as Raynaud's phenomenon, or secondary Raynaud's. Primary Raynaud's is more common and tends to be less severe than secondary Raynaud's. When you have primary or secondary Raynaud's, cold temperatures or stressful emotions can trigger attacks. During these attacks, there is a brief lack of blood flow to the affected body part(s), and the skin can temporarily become white then bluish. As blood flow returns to the area, the skin turns red. The affected areas can throb or feel numb and tingly. With severe Raynaud's, prolonged or repeated episodes can cause sores or tissue death (gangrene). June 2006

Raynaud's is a common condition in which blood is prevented from reaching the extremities of the body, mainly the fingers and toes, on exposure to the cold or any slight change in temperature. A small number of people who have Raynaud's also develop scleroderma, a disease which affects the connective tissue.

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Copyright © 2005 by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Individuals may photocopy this material for their own personal reference, and physicians may photocopy for use with their own patients. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

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Last Updated: February 8, 2006. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a histopathologic term commonly used to denote a small-vessel vasculitis. Many possible causes exist for this condition, but a cause is not found in as many as 50% of patients. The disorder may be localized to the skin, or it may manifest in other organs. The internal organs most commonly affected are the gastrointestinal tract and the kidneys. Joints are also commonly affected. The prognosis is good when no internal involvement is present. The disorder may be acute or chronic.

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Filed: 07/31/2006.