[Diagnosis and course assessment of collagenoses and vasculitides]

The different forms of vasculitis and connective tissue disorders are multisystem diseases which must be distinguished from a variety of infectious illnesses, neoplastic and degenerative diseases. The diagnosis, established by clinical, radiographic, laboratory and histologic investigation, influences treatment and thereby the outcome of the disease. A diagnostic approach to the patient with possible vasculitis and/or connective tissue disease is described.