What is mixed connective tissue disease?

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Mixed connective tissue disease, as first described in 1972, is " classically "

considered as an " overlap " of 3 diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus,

scleroderma, and polymyositis. People with this 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. People can have overlap syndromes that involve

any combination of the connective tissue diseases.

Mixed connective tissue disease can occur at any age, with the average age

of onset in the third decade. Eight out of ten patients are women. The disease

occurs in all races and is found worldwide.

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association

http://www.aarda.org/page27.html

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease from All About Arthritis- this site has a forum.

http://www.aboutarthritis.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=412

Merck Manual MCTD:

http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section5/chapter50/50o.htm

National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) MCTD

http://www.stepstn.com/cgi-win/nord.exe?proc=Redirect & type=rdb_sum & id=338.htm