[The survival and treatment of patients with systemic connective tissue diseases (research based on data from the II Internal Medicine Department of the Main Community Hospital in Stara Zagora for 1976-1986)].

The experience of the district hospital in Stara Zagora in the treatment of patients with systemic connective tissue diseases for the period 1976-1986 is presented. The study includes 47 patients with systemic connective tissue diseases: 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematodes (19 alive, 3 deceased); 18 patients with systemic progressive sclerodermia (16 alive, 2 deceased); 5 patients with dermatomyositis (4 alive, I deceased); 2 patients with nodal polyarteriitis (I alive, I deceased). The characteristic of the course of the disease is discussed--acute, subacute and chronic. The treatment applied and the cause of death are analyzed. The mean duration of the disease from the first clinical signs for the alive and the deceased is as follows: systemic lupus erythematodes--13.7 years for the alive and 12.5 years for the deceased patients; systemic progressive sclerodermia--16.6 years for the alive and 3.0 years for the deceased patients; dermatomyositis--3.7 years for the alive, 1.5 years for the deceased patients; polyarteritis nodosa--5 years for the alive, 2 years for the deceased patients. The conclusion is reached that the contemporary treatment can lead to a remission even in severe cases and life-threatening forms of the disease.