Issue 7/2023
Durmishev, L.,
Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University – Sofia
Autoimmune connective tissue diseases, which include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren‘s syndrome, systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis and polymyositis, are a group of diseases with different clinical manifestations and multiorgan involvement, including the skin. However, some of these patients have criteria for more than one autoimmune disease, which is referred to as „overlap syndrome“ or „mixed connective tissue disease.“
The aim of this review is to present the history, clinical, and immunologic features of overlapping syndromes: scleromyositis; rhupus, as well as Sharp, Rowell and Reynolds syndromes. Patients with these diseases usually do not fully meet the diagnostic criteria of „classical“ autoimmune connective tissue diseases, and this causes diagnostic difficulties. However, their clinical manifestations are generally milder and, in most cases, the prognosis is more favorable.
Address for correspondence:
Durmishev, L.
Department of Dermatology and Venereology,
Medical University – Sofia
1 „sv. Georgi Sofiyski“, Blvd.
1431, Sofia