Cardiovascular manifestations of connective tissue disorders

Disease processes that involve abnormalities of the connective tissue are protean in their manifestations because of the ubiquitous and crucial function that connective tissue serves in the body. Connective tissue supports of the heart and vascular structures play an integral role in normal cardiovascular performance, and it is not surprising that many connective tissue disorders produce important pathophysiologic processes that affect cardiac and vascular elements. The article focuses on the cardiac and vascular manifestations of hereditary and acquired forms of connective tissue disease. Special attention is focused on the use of imaging modalities and their role in diagnosing cardiovascular pathology produced by collagen disorders.