This book is a collection of works that canvass many of the recent developments in various areas of connective tissue research. It focuses on the structure of the components, molecular organization and pathology of the extracellular matrix.

The disciplines of rheumatology and dermatology are involved in the care of several diseases that share cutaneous and locomotor as well as, quite often, systemic involvement. While traditionally remaining separate, it has long been recognized that there are several areas of common interest in these two specialties. Indeed, this had been realized by sev- eral far-sighted physicians, both rheumatologists and dermatologists, such asG. Rodnan and 1. Gilliam. A number of books have been published over the past few years specifi- cally dealing with skin involvement in the connective tissue diseases, both inherited and acquired. These include The Skin in Rheumatic Disease, by C. R. Lovell, P. 1. Maddison, and G. V. Campion (Chapman and Hall Medical, 1990), Connective Tissue Diseases o(the Skin, edited by C. M. Lapiere and T. Krieg (Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1993), and Cutaneous Manifestations of Rheumatic Diseases, edited by R. D. Sontheimer and T. T. Provost (Wil- liams and Wilkins, 1996). However, despite this shared interest, meetings combining the two specialties were generally limited to small interest groups. It had long been felt that a workshop should be organized that could bring together the views of specialists from the two areas and focus on the challenges that this common ground brings to these two disciplines.

This text represents the proceedings of a conference, Rheumaderm, that was held in December 1997. The meeting was a dialogue between the specialties of Rheumatology and Dermatology, exploring and discussing areas of common interest. The aim was to present problems common to both specialties, thereby emphasizing the team approach to such problems and helping to combine various skills.