Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (657 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A heterogeneous group of disorders, some hereditary, others acquired, characterized by abnormal structure or function of one or more of the elements of connective tissue, i.e., collagen, elastin, or the mucopolysaccharides.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Connective Tissue Disease; Disease, Connective Tissue; Diseases, Connective Tissue.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases
- Narrower topics
- Anetoderma; Cartilage Diseases; Cellulitis; Collagen Diseases; Cutis Laxa; Dermatomyositis; Dupuytren Contracture; Fibromatosis, Plantar; Homocystinuria; Lipedema; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Marfan Syndrome; Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
- See also
- Bone Diseases, Developmental; Collagen Diseases
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 378,137 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Connective Tissue Diseases” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 65,624 of them (17.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 163,472 records.
Reviews account for 55,292 records (14.6%) and meta-analyses for 3,328. Randomized controlled trials number 6,755 (1.8%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 163,472 |
| 2000-2009 | 62,300 |
| 2010-2019 | 86,741 |
| 2020 onward | 65,624 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 55,292 | 14.6% |
| Meta-analyses | 3,328 | 0.9% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 6,755 | 1.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Connective Tissue Diseases"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in bones, joints, muscles and skin
Joint, bone, muscle and skin conditions are often judged by pain scores, function questionnaires, imaging or photographs, and symptoms can fluctuate, so placebo response and natural improvement matter. Imaging changes are common in people without symptoms. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment. Check how outcomes were measured, whether the comparison group received a placebo or usual care, and how long the benefit lasted.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gut microbiota functional remodeling and butyrate depletion amplify anti-Ro/La antibody-driven type I interferon activation in neonatal lupus | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42747315 · DOI · PMC13596901 |
| Microbiota-host interactions: key mechanisms linking periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42953482 · DOI · PMC13714531 |
| Telitacicept for the treatment of Sjögren's disease complicated by unilateral vocal fold immobility, severe hypergammaglobulinemia, and diabetes: a case report | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 42952743 · DOI · PMC13713689 |
Gut microbiota functional remodeling and butyrate depletion amplify anti-Ro/La antibody-driven type I interferon activation in neonatal lupus [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The early-life gut microbiome may influence susceptibility to antibody-mediated neonatal autoimmunity, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
- Closing excerpt
- Together, these findings provide functional evidence supporting a microbiota-associated butyrate-type I interferon pathway that may amplify maternal autoantibody-dependent immune activation and contribute to the clinical manifestation of NLE.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (245 words)
The early-life gut microbiome may influence susceptibility to antibody-mediated neonatal autoimmunity, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We investigated whether gut microbial functional capacity and metabolites influence autoantibody-dependent immune activation in 90 neonates, including healthy controls, anti-Ro/La-exposed neonates without neonatal lupus erythematosus (No-NLE), and neonates with NLE (n = 30 per group). Shotgun metagenomic profiling demonstrated progressive remodeling of the neonatal gut microbiome across the three groups, with anti-Ro/La exposure associated with depletion of early-life commensal-associated taxa, including Bifidobacterium, Rothia, and Clostridium, and enrichment of taxa with opportunistic potential, including Klebsiella and Enterococcus, with greatest ecological divergence in neonates with NLE. Functional profiling identified altered microbial carbohydrate-processing capacity, marked by enrichment of glycosyltransferase family 4 (GT4) and depletion of GT2 in NLE. These alterations coincided with broad reductions in plasma short-chain fatty acid metabolites, most prominently butyrate, together with increased serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and interferon-α (IFN-α) and decreased complement component 4 (C4). A GT4-Klebsiella-Rothia-IFN-α signature distinguished NLE from No-NLE (AUC = 0.883; 95% CI, 0.799-0.967). In functional assays, pooled bacteria-depleted fecal filtrates from neonates with NLE potentiated IFN-α production by neonatal peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of anti-Ro/La-positive plasma. Conversely, sodium butyrate suppressed anti-Ro/La-associated IFN-α production and reduced 28 inflammation-related proteins, including CXCL10, ADA, and PD-L1, involved in cytokine, IL-17, and TNF signaling. Together, these findings provide functional evidence supporting a microbiota-associated butyrate-type I interferon pathway that may amplify maternal autoantibody-dependent immune activation and contribute to the clinical manifestation of NLE.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42747315 · DOI · PMC13596901
Microbiota-host interactions: key mechanisms linking periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity, characterized by progressive destruction of periodontal supporting tissues.
- Closing excerpt
- Furthermore, this paper aims to explore potential prevention and treatment strategies based on oral microbial interventions, to provide novel insights and theoretical foundations for adjunctive therapy and disease management in SLE.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (157 words)
Periodontitis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases in the oral cavity, characterized by progressive destruction of periodontal supporting tissues. Its pathogenesis involves complex interactions between the oral microbiota and host immune responses. This condition not only severely impacts oral health but is also closely associated with multiple systemic diseases. In recent years, the link between periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has garnered increasing attention. This review examines the compositional characteristics of the oral microbiota in patients with SLE and the epidemiological evidence linking periodontitis to SLE. It focuses on how periodontitis may trigger or exacerbate SLE's autoimmune responses through the oral microbiota, via mechanisms such as molecular mimicry, cytokine-mediated immune activation, and microbial translocation, while elucidating the underlying pathophysiological and immunological mechanisms. Furthermore, this paper aims to explore potential prevention and treatment strategies based on oral microbial interventions, to provide novel insights and theoretical foundations for adjunctive therapy and disease management in SLE.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42953482 · DOI · PMC13714531
Telitacicept for the treatment of Sjögren's disease complicated by unilateral vocal fold immobility, severe hypergammaglobulinemia, and diabetes: a case report [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Sjögren's Disease (SjD) involves diverse extraglandular manifestations (EGMs).
- Closing excerpt
- Definitive efficacy requires confirmation in larger controlled studies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (255 words)
Sjögren's Disease (SjD) involves diverse extraglandular manifestations (EGMs). Severe hypergammaglobulinemia and suspected recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) -related unilateral vocal fold immobility represent aggressive phenotypes. Management of such presentations may be constrained by metabolic comorbidities such as diabetes, which limit the use of conventional high-dose glucocorticoids. Herein, we describe a 48-year-old female with SjD and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) who presented with severe hypergammaglobulinemia (IgG 38.9 g/L), acute hoarseness, and sicca symptoms. Laryngostroboscopy demonstrated left-sided unilateral vocal fold immobility, possibly suggestive of neurogenic paralysis. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) did not identify obvious masses or extrinsic compression along the visualized RLN course, reducing the likelihood of a compressive or malignant etiology. The EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) score was 26. A combined therapeutic regimen comprising telitacicept (160 mg/week), methylprednisolone (20 mg/day) and hydroxychloroquine (0.2 g, twice daily) was initiated, both to minimize glucocorticoid exposure and to target the patient's profound B-cell hyperactivity manifested by severe hypergammaglobulinemia. Marked serological and symptomatic improvements were observed during treatment. Within 15 weeks, the IgG level decreased to 14.6 g/L, rheumatoid factor (RF) decreased from 759 IU/mL to 58.3 IU/mL, and the ESSDAI score dropped to 6. The patient experienced symptomatic improvement of hoarseness, while methylprednisolone was successfully tapered to 4 mg/day. Clinical stability based on patient-reported symptoms persisted through the 12-month follow-up. This case is hypothesis-generating: A telitacicept-containing regimen may produce marked serological improvement and symptomatic benefit for high-activity SjD with laryngeal/vocal fold involvement, while reducing glucocorticoid-related metabolic risks. Definitive efficacy requires confirmation in larger controlled studies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42952743 · DOI · PMC13713689
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Pregnancy outcome predictors in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult-onset Still's disease are the same disease: evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses informing the 2023 EULAR/PReS recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Still's disease [5]
- Research article Biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article Relationship Between Fear of Movement and Physical Activity in Patients With Cardiac, Rheumatologic, Neurologic, Pulmonary, or Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article Rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent fracture risk: an individual person meta-analysis to update FRAX [8]
- Research article Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation in the treatment of autoimmune and rheumatic immune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [9]
References
- Sun W, Li Y, Liu X, Yu S, Li W, Wang H, et al.. Gut microbiota functional remodeling and butyrate depletion amplify anti-Ro/La antibody-driven type I interferon activation in neonatal lupus. . 2026. PMID 42747315 · DOI · PMC13596901
- Wu X, Zhang X, Guo Y, Zhang R, Li H, Zhao W. Microbiota-host interactions: key mechanisms linking periodontitis and systemic lupus erythematosus. . 2026. PMID 42953482 · DOI · PMC13714531
- Zheng K, Zhou Z, Du G, Lin Q, Lin J, Zhang W, et al.. Telitacicept for the treatment of Sjögren's disease complicated by unilateral vocal fold immobility, severe hypergammaglobulinemia, and diabetes: a case report. . 2026. PMID 42952743 · DOI · PMC13713689
- Wind M, Fierro JJ, Bloemenkamp KWM, de Leeuw K, Lely AT, Limper M, et al.. Pregnancy outcome predictors in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Rheumatol. 2024. PMID 39153486 · DOI
- De Matteis A, Bindoli S, De Benedetti F, Carmona L, Fautrel B, Mitrovic S. Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult-onset Still's disease are the same disease: evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses informing the 2023 EULAR/PReS recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Still's disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024. PMID 39317414 · DOI · PMC11671913
- Guo L, Wang J, Li J, Yao J, Zhao H. Biomarkers of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Immunol. 2024. PMID 39534599 · DOI · PMC11554464
- Goubran M, Farajzadeh A, Lahart IM, Bilodeau M, Boisgontier MP. Relationship Between Fear of Movement and Physical Activity in Patients With Cardiac, Rheumatologic, Neurologic, Pulmonary, or Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Phys Ther. 2025. PMID 40188486 · DOI · PMC12207065
- Kanis JA, Johansson H, McCloskey EV, Liu E, Schini M, Vandenput L, et al.. Rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent fracture risk: an individual person meta-analysis to update FRAX. Osteoporos Int. 2025. PMID 39955689 · DOI
- Zeng L, Liu C, Wu Y, Liu S, Zheng Y, Hao W, et al.. Efficacy and safety of mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation in the treatment of autoimmune and rheumatic immune diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2025. PMID 39934871 · DOI · PMC11817852
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.