Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disorder
that causes signs and symptoms of other connective tissue diseases.
People with mixed connective tissue disease experience features of
three other diseases — lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis. For this
reason, mixed connective tissue disease is sometimes referred to as
an overlap disease.
Signs and symptoms of these three other diseases usually don't appear
all at once. This makes diagnosing mixed connective tissue disease
somewhat complicated. Often people with mixed connective tissue
disease are first diagnosed with lupus. As the disease progresses and
other signs and symptoms become apparent, the diagnosis is corrected.
Mixed connective tissue disease occurs most often in women and is
usually diagnosed in young adults in their 20s and 30s. Children have
also been diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disease.
Mixed connective tissue disease is somewhat of a controversial term
among arthritis specialists (rheumatologists). Some question whether
mixed connective tissue disease is its own specific disease or
whether it's a precursor to another connective tissue disease.

Signs and symptoms
Mixed connective tissue disease doesn't have a unique set of signs
and symptoms. Instead, people with mixed connective tissue disease
usually have signs and symptoms of lupus, scleroderma and
polymyositis, including:
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Joint pain
Joint swelling
Swollen fingers
Mild fever
Raynaud's phenomenon — blood vessel spasms that interrupt blood flow
to the fingers, toes, ears and nose
Lupus
Scleroderma
Polymyositis
Raynaud's disease
Causes
Doctors don't know what causes mixed connective tissue disease. The
disease is part of a larger group of diseases known as autoimmune
disorders. When you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system —
the part of your body responsible for fighting off disease — mistakes
normal, healthy cells for intruders. As a result, healthy tissue in
your body is damaged, causing signs and symptoms of disease.
It isn't clear what causes your immune system to attack your body.
Doctors believe a complex mix of viruses, chemicals and genetic
factors may be at play.

Risk factors
Doctors don't know what puts you at risk of mixed connective tissue
disease. Some research shows the disease may occur more frequently in
people with a family history of connective tissue diseases. Other
findings show an increased risk in people exposed to certain
chemicals, including vinyl chloride and silica. More research is
needed to confirm these findings.

When to seek medical advice
Signs and symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease usually begin
mildly and may not prompt you to seek medical attention. But if signs
and symptoms become bothersome or interfere with your daily routine,
make an appointment with your doctor.
Also see your doctor if you've been diagnosed with lupus or another
connective tissue disease and you begin developing new signs and
symptoms.

Screening and diagnosis
Your doctor may suspect mixed connective tissue disease based on your
signs and symptoms. He or she will conduct a physical exam to look
for signs such as swollen hands and painful, swollen joints.
A blood test determines whether you have a certain antibody in your
blood that indicates mixed connective tissue disease. The presence of
this specific antibody — called U1-RNP — can confirm your doctor's
suspicions.
Mixed connective tissue disease usually develops slowly, making it
difficult to diagnose. As your signs and symptoms evolve over time —
sometimes many years — your diagnosis may change. Many people are
first diagnosed with lupus and later re-diagnosed with mixed
connective tissue disease. Others begin with a diagnosis of mixed
connective tissue disease only to later find they have lupus or
another connective tissue disorder.

Complications
Mixed connective tissue disease and its treatment can lead to serious
complications, including:
Pulmonary hypertension. High blood pressure affecting the arteries in
your lungs (pulmonary hypertension) is the most common cause of death
in people with mixed connective tissue disease. You might experience
difficulty breathing or chest pain if you have pulmonary
hypertension. People with mixed connective tissue disease usually
need to take medications to control pulmonary hypertension.
Heart disease. People with mixed connective tissue disease are at
risk of developing heart conditions, including enlargement of parts
of the heart and inflammation around the heart (pericarditis). Your
doctor may routinely monitor your heart with an electrocardiogram.
Side effects of long-term steroid use. Steroids are commonly used to
manage the signs and symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease.
While these medications are effective, they don't come without risks.
If you take steroids, your doctor will likely monitor you for adverse
effects, such as bone loss due to osteoporosis or avascular necrosis,
muscle weakness and infection.
Pregnancy complications. Women with mixed connective tissue disease
may experience flares during pregnancy. Babies born to women with
mixed connective tissue disease are at risk of being born with a low
birth weight. If you're planning to become pregnant, talk with your
doctor about this risk.

Treatment
No cure exists for mixed connective tissue disease, although
treatments can help manage the signs and symptoms of the disease.
Your treatment may vary from another person's because your signs and
symptoms may be different.
While no standard treatment exists, the most common treatment for
mixed connective tissue disease is corticosteroids, such as
prednisone.
People with mild forms of mixed connective tissue disease may not
need any treatment. You may require treatment only during flares or
you may require constant medication. Work with your doctor to ensure
that your signs and symptoms are adequately controlled.

Coping skills
Living with a chronic disease that has no cure requires effective
coping skills. Consider trying to:
Find out as much as you can about mixed connective tissue disease.
Learn as much as you can about the disease. Ask your doctor and other
health care team members for assistance in locating reliable
resources. The more you know about the disease, the easier it is to
understand what's happening to your body.
Take care of yourself. Control your health as best you can. Eat a
balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Get exercise on
days you feel up to it. Keeping your body healthy makes you better
able to deal with the daily stress of living with a chronic illness.
And it better prepares you to cope with your next flare.
Seek support from others. Social support helps you cope with the
stress of mixed connective tissue disease. Ask your doctor about
support groups in your area for people with chronic illnesses. Go
online to http://www.LupusMCTD.com to connect with other people
living with mixed connective tissue disease.



♥Giving Back To The Future Lupus & MCTD Patients
(―`♥°•Kathy•°♥΄―)