How does mixed connective tissue disease affect bladder control and fluid retention and output?
Coz they are involving more than one systems. (
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I need answers on an autoimmune disease called mixed connective tissue disorder?
I have been diagnosed with this auto immune disease and I have no clue what to do. Is there anyone out there that is going through what I am. Please give me advice on how to deal with it.
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I hope this site is of some use to you.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/DS00675
I do not have that separate diagnosis, but do have it as a part of an autoimmune disease. I have Antiphospholipid Syndrome and I do know others with this dual diagnosis.
Best wishes to you. (
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My husband has mixed connective tissue disease, how long can he live with this condition?
The overall 10-year survival rate is 80%. Generally it is impossible to predict the life-span of any individual patient, due to the diverse nature of the disease.
When you have come to terms emotionally with the diagnosis of your husband, I would highly recommend joining a patient group. learn as much as you can about this complex disease, so you can adequately prepare for the future. Should you wish to learn more, I've listed a reliable source of information below. (
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Does Anyone on here have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease?
I have had it for 10 years now and never met anyone else with this condition please if anyone else does I would like to make friends with you and see how you are affected by it because I cant find any groups for MCTD... its always just lupus or just this or just that.
Anyway be nice to hear from anyone xx
xx haych xx
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Mixed connective tissue disease is an uncommon, specifically defined, overlap syndrome characterized by clinical features of SLE, systemic sclerosis, and polymyositis with very high titers of circulating antinuclear antibody to a ribonucleoprotein antigen. Hand swelling, Raynaud's syndrome, polyarthralgia, inflammatory myopathy, esophageal hypomotility, and pulmonary dysfunction are common. Diagnosis is by the combination of clinical features, antibodies to ribonucleoprotein, and absence of antibodies specific for other autoimmune diseases. Treatment varies with disease severity and organ involvement but usually includes corticosteroids and sometimes additional immunosuppressive drugs. (
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What are the criteria for diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease?
For those who don't know, mixed connective tissue disease is a really nasty auto-immune disease. I'm really hoping some knowledgeable physicians might be able to answer this question.
My wife, who was recently diagnosed with MCTD, is on medicaid because we don't have alot of money or health insurance, and the disease has prevented her from working. Because of this we don't have alot of doctor choice. One of her doctors has diagnosed her with MCTD, but another claims she has none of the symptoms, which required questioning the first doctor's lab results and calling my wife a liar when she described her symptoms (although, of course, this doctor was careful not to come right out and say this, only to hint at it). And, of course, this second doctor thinks nothing is wrong with her.
So, here she is, cought in the middle of this medical squabble. Although I am inclined to believe the first doctor (as the second tends to be rather arrogant), I am not a physician, and from a logical stand point I have no hard data to tell me who is right and who is wrong. All I have, thus far, is both doctor's conflicting word.
So, I want to know, how do you diagnose this disease? And, moreover, where can I get some solid information, information that would be recognized by the medical community, that will prove what the correct way to diagnose the disease are? It has to be something I can cite as a reference. And I am willing to swim through a little medical jargon- I have been imersed in enough of it by now to handle it, and I know how to use a dictionary if it gets to be too much. Obviosly, I cannot diagnose a disease myself. But if I can figure out who to believe, it would be an immense help.
My wife's condition is deteriorating on a monthly basis, and no one will do anything about it. Please, if anyone has any information or references about identifying or diagnosing this disease, and distinguishing it from other diseases, it would be an immense help. Thanks, and God bless.
By the way, the reason I am interested in this particular diagnosis is because, from what information I have been given about MCTD, it would explain every single one of my wife's symptoms. It is the first such diagnosis that has. (The various doctors she has seen have all had their own diagnosis for her...)
However, if it turns out that she does not have MCTD, I do not want to waste any more time on it. She is suffering too much to waste any more time chasing wrong diagnosies.
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Please tell your wife that I am sorry she is in this boat, and tell her to keep her chin up. There is hope, you just need to find the right corner to look around.
I looked this up at Web MD for you and this is what it said:
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)
Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)is not the name you expected.
Synonyms
Connective Tissue Disease
MCTD
Disorder Subdivisions
None
General Discussion
Mixed connective tissue disease (MTCD) is a rare connective tissue disorder. MCTD is used to describe what may be an overlapping group of connective tissue disorders that cannot be diagnosed in more specific terms. These disorders include systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, and scleroderma. Individuals with MCTD have symptoms of each of these disorders including arthritic, cardiac, pulmonary and skin manifestations; kidney disease; muscle weakness; and dysfunction of the esophagus. The exact cause of mixed connective tissue disease is unknown.
Here is a link for the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:
http://lupus.webmd.com/lupus_systemic_lupus_erythematosus_article
Here is a link for the Polymyositis:
http://arthritis.webmd.com/polymyositis
Here is a link for the Scleroderma:
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/scleroderma
I hope all this Information will help you.
With Hope and Kind Words
Darcey (
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Does anyone know or have Mixed Connective Tissue Disease and Symptoms??
My CBC is 2.5 (Low). Does this mean anything and is there a Great doctor who knows something about this disorder?? I have been to 3 Rheum. already and Internal Med doc is in the dark .
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The connective tissues are the structural portions of our body that essentially hold the cells of the body together. These tissues form a framework or matrix for the body. The connective tissues are composed of two major structural molecules, collagen and elastin. There are many different collagen proteins that vary in amount in each tissue of the body. Elastin is another protein that has the capability of stretching and returning to original length like a spring. Elastin is the major component of ligaments (tissues which attach bone to bone). Connective tissue diseases are disorders featuring abnormalities involving the collagen and elastin. Connective tissue diseases are often characterized by a variety of immune abnormalities that are common for each particular type of illness. Most people have subtle signs and symptoms of the disease many years before ever getting a diagnosis. They can include fingers swelling, joint and or muscular pain, irritable bowel syndrome, digestive problems, Raynaud's symptoms (fingers turning white when cold), allergies, general malaise, sleep disturbances and quite frequently overwhelming fatigue. Sometimes the symptoms feel like the flu. Some patients have frequent infections including gum infections, sore throats, stomach infections, and respiratory infections. Symptoms vary, and each person's illness can be quite different. Often a person with MCTD goes to many doctors with these small complaints, but often a doctor will not grasp the whole picture since it is very rare. Many patients are told they are depressed and put on anti-depressants. Frequently the illness progresses until there is damage to the internal organs. It is often then that the diagnosis is made. Often the diagnosis is made based on the symptoms. But, there are several tests of autoimmune disease. Usually the first test given is the ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies). This is a general test of autoimmune disease. A "speckled" pattern and abnormally high results are found in the ANA if MCTD is present. Although in the early stages of MCTD, it can be negative. If the ANA is positive, additional tests will be given to identify the kind of autoimmune disease present. The RNP antibodies are the hallmark of MCTD, and will be abnormally high as well. New Evidence in an article in Arthritis and Rheumatism (May 1999)demonstrates that antibody to RNA is a better marker for MCTD since it tracks the activity of the disease. A person with this disease may have antibodies found in the various other autoimmune disease as well. The treatment of mixed connective tissue disease is based on which features are causing symptoms. The prognosis (outlook) varies accordingly. Therapies must be targeted for each of the organ systems affected. In general, treatment is often directed at suppressing the inflammation present in the tissues by using anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications. In brief, connective tissues are the framework of the cells of the body. Mixed connective tissue disease is an "overlap" combination of connective tissue diseases. Diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease is supported by detecting abnormal antibodies in the blood. Treatment of mixed connective tissue disease is directed at suppressing immune-related inflammation of tissues. With respect to you result of a Complete Blood Count, the normal values are :- RBC (varies with altitude): Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL: Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL: WBC: 4,500 to 10,000 cells/mcL: Hematocrit (varies with altitude): Male: 40.7 to 50.3 %: Female: 36.1 to 44.3 %: Hemoglobin (varies with altitude): Male: 13.8 to 17.2 gm/dL: Female: 12.1 to 15.1 gm/dL: MCV: 80 to 95 femtoliter: MCH: 27 to 31 pg/cell: MCHC: 32 to 36 gm/dL: (cells/mcL = cells per microliter; gm/dL = grams per deciliter; pg/cell = picograms per cell) I am supposing that the low reading you state, is with regard to the Red Blood Cells. Low numbers of RBCs may indicate: Blood loss: Anemia (various types): Hemorrhage: Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxin, fibrosis, tumor): Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to renal disease): Hemolysis (RBC destruction) Leukemia: Multiple myeloma: Malnutrition (nutritional deficiencies of iron, folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6).
Hope this helps
Matador 89 (
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Lasik and mixed connective tissue disease??
Hi, I'd like to know what anyone knows about getting lasik done and have an autoimmune disease. THis is for me I have seen 2 doctors, 1 said I'm a good candidate but the other said I am not because my cornea could melt, I am going to speak to my rheumatologist about it but I'd like to know what you all know about this. THank you for your answers.
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Read http://ft0.org/832b09 it has good information on laser eye surgery and treatments. (
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Mixed Connective Tissue Disease?
Could someone explain what MCT disease is.. I need to know some more answers to this
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Do check out all the websites listed and keep looking, as it's not very common so it's hard to find information on it.
Despite what you might read, it is it's own autoimmune disease, and it should not be confused for UCTD (Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease). MCTD is diagnosed when there is a positive and high value for one specific blood test - the anti-RNP. This should also be accompanied by a high positive ANA result as well - generally speckled pattern. While some people with lupus have a positive anti-RNP, it is a diagnosing criteria for MCTD.
MCTD can have symptoms of 3 other autoimmune diseases making it a good impersonator of the others and difficult to diagnose - Lupus, Scleroderma, and Polymiositis. It is HIGHLY common (estimates I've read say about 95%) for MCTD diagnosed patients to develop Raynaud's Syndrome. I developed it about 6 mo. after my initial diagnosis. Also arthralgia or arthritis are very common, as with Lupus.
Also common with MCTD is esophogial issues (related to polymiositis) as well as pleuresy related to the lungs and fluid build up around the heart as well.
In general the life expectancy and overall symptoms of MCTD are similar to Lupus, but tend to be slightly better outcomes overall.
Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions, as I have had to find all of this out on my own and have been educating my family and friends about this, Lupus, and other autoimmune disorders. It was good because about a year ago, my aunt was diagnosed with RA and I was able to help out some in explaining a few things and being supportive.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with this, or the doctors believe you/they might have this, it's important to know that it's not worth being scared over. It's manageable and treatable with medications and general observance. Also I have found out that just knowing is far better than wondering. While I still have some symptoms daily, my medications have made them unnoticeable to most people and I'm able to continue to do most of the things I've been doing. And sometimes I honestly don't notice anything or much at all - you just get used to some of the little things and realize it's life as normal. :) (
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death average in mixed connective tissue disease?
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Who & where are the best doctors & hospitals for lupus and Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD)?
I have been diagnosed with first, MCTD, then, Lupus. Three years it caused an infection in my heart that left me with a moderate aortic vaulve leak. My skin is badly mottled and has constant rashes and sores. I have headaches, muscle pain, and joint pain. I am on Plaquenil Tabs 200 mg 2x a day, Skelaxin-800 1x day, Etodolac 500 mg 2x a day, Allegra 180 mg 1x day, Celcept 500 3x a day, Clobetasol Propionate Cream 0.05% 2x, Folic Acid 1 mg 5tabs daily plus additional meds for heart, hypothyroid, depression and sleep. Want to be more functional with less pain and less skin problems.
Living in New Jersey.
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You don't say what state you are in so I have included a link to the Lupus Foundation of America. The have local chapters which will direct you to doctors.
Also, a good lupus blog or chat room will have people discussing both their good and bad experiences with doctors. You might be able to exchange with a person in your area.
Call your local hospital and see if they have any lupus support groups.
Good luck with your treatments. (
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