ABSTRACT
Collagen vascular diseases are complex multiorgan states of pathologic dysfunction. The collagen vascular diseases that most commonly result in emergency situations include systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dermatomyositis (DM), and scleroderma. This chapter will review emergency management of connective tissue disorders and their complications. In particular, the clinical and laboratory aids required for diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis will be reviewed. Because we assume that the reader has a basic understanding of the diseases, the chapter does not review them.
