- mixed connective tissue disease
- In medicine, mixed connective tissue disease (also known as Sharp's syndrome), commonly abbreviated as MCTD, is an autoimmune disease in which the body's defense system attacks itself.
Definition by: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/definition-and-diagnosis-of-mixed-connective-tissue-disease
INTRODUCTION
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was originally defined in 1972 as a connective tissue disorder characterized by the presence of high titers of a distinctive autoantibody, now called anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) (previously termed antibody to extractable nuclear antigens [anti-ENA]) [1]. The central premise of the MCTD concept is that of an overlap syndrome associated with anti-U1 RNP antibodies that incorporates selected clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (scleroderma [Scl]), and polymyositis (PM) [2].
The definitive diagnosis of MCTD is often complicated by the fact that the overlapping features tend to occur sequentially [3]. This confusion arises due to the overlap of the various diffuse connective tissue diseases (DCTD), as well as to changes in the underlying pathology of the illnesses.
The definition and diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease are reviewed here. The clinical manifestations, prognosis, and treatment of the illness, as well as a detailed discussion of anti-U1 RNP antibodies, are presented separately. (See "Clinical manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease" and "Prognosis and treatment of mixed connective tissue disease" and "Anti-U1 RNP antibodies in mixed connective tissue disease".)
DISEASE CLASSIFICATION
Five major diffuse connective tissue diseases (DCTD) exist according to classification schema: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); scleroderma (Scl); polymyositis (PM); dermatomyositis (DM); and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A sixth disorder, Sjögren’s syndrome, is commonly associated with each of these diseases but is called primary Sjögren’s syndrome when it occurs alone.
The classical clinical descriptions of these disorders are well known, and most patients with well-differentiated disease are easily recognized. However, the definitive diagnosis of each of these disorders is based upon criteria derived from expert opinion; as such, the diagnostic criteria are updated from time to time, depending upon the relevance of contemporary research. Clinicians experienced in the clinical presentations of the connective tissue disorder often note that one DCTD seems to evolve into another over the course of several years [4]. This occurs in about 25 percent of patients, who are then said to have an overlap syndrome [5]. (See "Undifferentiated systemic rheumatic (connective tissue) diseases and overlap syndromes".)
My findings
- The point here is that is a rare disease.
- Fatality chance is 4% if you are a high risk (I am mild thankfully)
- There is no cure for this either treatable with medication
- There is no professional website or foundation that supports my condition because its so rare and very uncommon
- From my understanding its like one and a thousand chance of getting this and being diagnosed with it
- Survival rate after being diagnosed is an extra 10 years (did not specify if I only have 10 to live or 10 years extra added on) so I am presuming I may live to see 50 and above.
- Children are also affected
- Ages of those who are primarily affected before and after diagnosis 20's-30's
- Flares are constant but not all at once from the different symptoms i.e. lupus
- You are at higher risk if you are planning to bring another family you have to consult a doctor and be very carefully monitored because it will progress the disease to a different stage
- Eventually it will attack the heart, lungs and kidneys
So for the time being I have to continue Cymbalta and Mobic to keep the disease under control before I can start the new medication in January 2015. Yay me I'm the lucky one who gets a rare disease that not even google can give me a good answer. My whole body is on fire, I am feeling shocks and fracturing. I hate this shit! I am at a loss for not having a good resourceful information that will help me understand what my disease is even though it should not define who I am. I just want a clear understanding of what can I do to control this disease and benefit to live a normal life to have a job, spend time with my family and be more active than what I am doing now.