General Information on Rare Diseases
Support Groups for Rare Diseases
Orphan Drugs
Autoimmune Disorders
Blood disorders
Book Lists/Reviews
Cancers, rare
Chromosomal disorders
Clinical trials
Digestive disorders
Eye Disorders
Genetic - gen info
Infectious Diseases
Kidney/Urinary Disorders
Legislation
Metabolic Disorders
Mitochondrial disease
Movement disorders
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Multiple System Disorders
Muscles, Bones, and Joints
Muscular dystrophies
Neurological Disorders
Primary Immunodeficiency
Prion Diseases
Purpura
Respiratory Disorders
Skin Disorders
Storage diseases
Lupus Erythematosus
Links to information and databases of rare diseases around the world.
Links to directories/databases of support and advocacy groups and organizations for rare diseases. Support groups are also listed with their specific diseases on this site.
Articles and information on orphan drugs (drugs to treat rare diseases).
Disorders in which the body in essence turns on itself and destroys its own cells.
Descriptions of problems with the things that make up blood, such as red blood cells, white cells, platelets, plasma, and enzymes that control what the blood does. Links to sites offering information and support.
Recommended books about or related to rare diseases and disorders.
Cancer can develop in almost any kind of cell in the body--muscle, bone, the organs, skin, and tissues. Links to organizations offering information and support are grouped by body system affected.
Links to information and support sites for syndromes that occur with defects in any of the 23 pairs of human chromosomes.
Links to sites offering information on participation in clinical trials, such as what questions to ask and why, and lists of current studies looking for volunteers.
Rare diseases/disorders of the digestive system.
Rare conditions affecting the eyes.
Links to general information and resources for genetic disorders. For specific disorders, search for the topic on the site.
Diseases caused by bacteria and viruses.
Disorders affecting the kidneys, adrenal glands, and the urinary tract.
Information and articles about legislation related to rare diseases, either bills in the U.S. Congress or laws enacted.
Biochemical disorders in which specific enzyme defects affect chemical processes in the body.
Diseases/disorders caused by damage to the mitochondria in the body's cells.
Links to subject pages and feature articles on movement disorders (characterized by tics, tremors, chorea, and problems with balance and coordination).
Illness caused by exposure to low levels of synthetic chemicals.
Diseases or disorders affecting more than one system of the body.
Disorders and diseases affecting the muscles, bones, and/or connective tissues in the body.
Muscular dystrophy is the overall name for a group of inherited muscle disorders that cause progressive weakening of the body's muscles. Find links here for information and resources for the different types.
Disorders of the nervous system, including nerves, spinal cord, and brain.
An inherited problem with, or lack of, some or all of the body's immune system.
Diseases caused by prions (infectious proteins). These diseases include spongiform encephalopathies, kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker diseases, and fatal familial insomnia.
Purple discolorations on the skin caused by bleeding underneath the skin. Small spots are petechiae, large spots are ecchymoses.
Rare disorders and diseases of the respiratory system.
Disorders, diseases, and conditions affecting the skin.
Storage diseases are disorders in which some substance accumulates in cells in abnormal amounts. Find descriptions and links for Tay-Sachs, Gaucher, Fabry's, and other diseases on this page.
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune connective tissue disease.