‘Composites’ – an Aberrant Structure of the Collagen Fibril

Abstract
Ultrastructural investigations are presented concerning the ‘composite’-like collagen changes in different kinds of connective tissue diseases. Most impressing findings were observed in processes causing an extensive elastotic degeneration. The morphology of the ‘composite’-like collagen changes is described, and some hypotheses are discussed with regard to the pathomechanism of their generation.