[Endothelial antigenicity in diffuse connective tissue diseases]. / Antigenicidade endotelial nas doenças difusas do tecido conectivo.

The authors review the published data on antibodies to endothelial cells observed in patients suffering from diffuse connective tissue diseases. In these patients the histologic lesions are found in vessels of different sizes and localizations. It is believed that such auto-antibodies may have a role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of these disorders. The preliminary results of a study of the antigenicity of endothelial cells in mixed connective tissue disease are also presented.

[Soft tissue rheumatism: critical approach of clinical aspects]. / Reumatismo de partes moles: abordagem crítica dos aspectos clínicos.

Soft tissue rheumatism or "non-articular rheumatism" represents a group of diverse entities, the common feature of which is muscular stiffness and pain. It is the major cause of morbidity and loss of productive man-hours at work. There is no internationally accepted classification of the soft tissue rheumatism. On hand of an arbitrary classification of the soft tissue rheumatism the affections are divided in localized, regional and generalized conditions.

[Soft tissue rheumatism: therapeutic approach]. / Reumatismo de partes moles: abordagem terapêutica.

The authors review the conventional methods for the management of the soft tissue rheumatism. The success in relieving the patient's chief complaint, i.e. pain, depends on the choice of the appropriate measures that can be used without inconvenience to the patients.

[Superposition syndrome of connective tissue diseases: current view with special focus on mixed connective tissue disease]. / Síndrome de superposição de conectivopatias: visão atual com enfoque especial para a doença mista do tecido conectivo.

Attention is called to mixed connective tissue disease which, twenty years after it's original description, has now reached the syndromic individualization with important therapeutic and prognostic implications. In particular the discussion concerns the pulmonary complications (hypertension and fibrosis) responsible frequently for fatal outcome.