New knowledge of the connective tissue diseases I.

This paper examines the extent to which understanding of six of the principle disorders of connective tissue: the glycosaminoglycan storage diseases, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, chondrocalcinosis, and osteoarthrosis, has progressed during the past ten years. The paper recalls the pioneer observations of PAUL KLEMPERER on the systemic diseases of collagen, and introduces a series of reviews in which advances in present understanding of some of the connective tissue diseases will be examined in greater detail.