January 7, 2005
What is Mixed Connective Tissue Disease?
This is the first chance I have really had to look up MCTD since getting the dx so I thought I would post what I found out. Not alot of information since this is a rare disoder but there is enough information to atleast give me an idea of what all I'm dealing with.
What is mixed connective tissue disease?
Mixed connective tissue disease, as first described in 1972, is "classically" considered as an "overlap" of three diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. Patients with this pattern illness have features of each of these three diseases. They also typically have very high quantities of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and antibodies to ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) detectable in their blood. The symptoms of many of these patients eventually evolve to become dominated by features of one of three component illnesses, most commonly scleroderma features.
It is now known that overlap syndromes can occur that involve any combination of the connective tissue diseases. Therefore, for example, patients can have a combination of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (hence, the coined name "rhupus").
This definitely does explain more of my symtpoms to me.
Posted by Lisa on January 7, 2005 6:41 PM
Comments
I was just diagnosed this week with MCTD after being diagnosed with fibromyalgia 7 yrs ago, still having all the symptoms of MCTD that the rheumatologist never even tried to diagnose. (I quit going to doc because my blood tests were normal, and I lost my job and insurance). I would appreciate any information on treatments for this disease, as I haven't found anything on Internet for that. I'm 44 and was doing well with B Vitamins and Ultram for the muscle pains, while pacing myself on the hands and feet. My own family doc diagnosed this for me, after other symptoms suddenly blossomed, due to taking care of a new grandchild. I think he's right on target with the diagnosis. But it's scary. Please write to me at email address above. Thanks.
Posted by: Debbie West at April 20, 2005 1:44 PM