Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting the connective tissue. In autoimmune disorders, the body's own immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues causing inflammation and malfunction of various organ systems. In lupus, the organ systems most often involved include the skin, kidneys, blood and joints. Many different symptoms are associated with lupus, and most affected individuals do not experience all of the symptoms. In some cases, lupus may be a mild disorder affecting only a few organ systems. In other cases, it may result in serious complications.

Scleroderma is a rare connective tissue disorder characterized by abnormally increased production and accumulation of collagen, the body's major structural protein, in skin and other organs of the body. There are systemic and localized forms of scleroderma. Systemic scleroderma is characterized by hardening (induration) and thickening of the skin and abnormal degenerative changes and formation of fibrous tissue (fibrosis) in certain organs of the body including the lungs, heart, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Associated symptoms, which may vary widely from case to case, may include abnormal discoloration of and pain affecting the skin of the hands and feet upon exposure to cold temperatures (Raynaud's phenomenon); abnormal tightness, thickening, "waxiness," and loss of elasticity of the skin; shortness of breath; difficulty swallowing; muscle weakness; joint pain; heart abnormalities including irregular heart beats (palpitations); kidney (renal) abnormalities; and/or other symptoms and findings. In individuals with localized scleroderma, involvement is restricted to the skin, tissue under the skin (subcutaneous tissue), and, in some cases, underlying muscle and bone. Although the exact cause of scleroderma is unknown, some researchers suggest that the disorder represents an abnormal autoimmune response in which the immune system reacts against part of the affected individual's own body.

Polymyositis is a rare connective tissue disease. The cause is unknown. Polymyositis is characterized by inflammatory degenerative changes in the muscle fibers and the supportive collagen of connective tissue. The major early symptom of this disorder is muscle weakness, usually in the neck, trunk and shoulders. Eventually, it may become difficult to rise from a sitting position, climb stairs, lift objects and/or reach overhead. Occasionally, joint pain and tenderness also occur. Additional symptoms may also include inflammation of the lungs (interstitial pneumonitis), difficulty breathing, coughing, extreme sensitivity to cold that is most often felt in the fingers caused by narrowing of blood vessels in the fingers (Raynaud's phenomenon), digestive problems, and/or heart irregularities.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive form of arthritis that eventually leads to the destruction of the bone joints causing pain and physical deformity. Rheumatoid Arthritis is characterized by inflammation of the joints (arthritis) on both sides of the body (symmetrical) leading to swelling, pain, and decreased mobility. The symptoms of this disease usually appear during middle age and it is most common in females. The course of the disease is highly variable and may include episodes of remission.