title: [Rheumatology-part 2. Research news concerning pathogenesis, epidemiology, diagnosis, and therapy of connective tissue disease].
abstract: Due to the partial elucidation of the immunopathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases during the last years, clinical rheumatology has made a rapid development, which by the consequent use of immunomodulatory therapies including recombinant proteins (biologicals) led to a significantly ameliorated prognosis of these diseases. On this basis, new research projects are continuously performed in the fields of pathogenesis, new drug development, outcome and therapy studies. New developments of imaging techniques and serologic testing facilitate a better classification and definition of disease activity and remission criteria. The current state of research in the field of collagen vascular diseases with its clinical consequences is reviewed in this article on the basis of the most recent data available.
authors.affiliation: Poliklinik für Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck. ahmadi@rheuma-zentrum.de
authors.forename: Keihan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmadi-Simab
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellmich
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lamprecht
authors.forename: Wolfgang L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins