:hehe: Lesley !
It just goes to show how doctors differ in their views of what symptoms fit into what disease'(diagnosis) category. Also descriptions of what constitutes a disease evolve and change as they learn more about autoimmune connective tissue disease. No doubt there will be brand new diagnoses like MCTD, SCLE and APS.
Just for interest Dr Wallace gives " A working definition of UCTD"
1. Mandatory: Inflammatory arthritis in >1 joint or Raynaud or Keratoconjunctivitis sicca [dry eyes/mouth]
2. Mandatory: positive ANA, rheumatoid factor, or anti CCP [ another test for RA]
3. Need three of the following: myalgias, autoimmune rash, serositis persistent fever without infection, adenopathy, elevated SED rate or CRP, anti phospholipid antibody
And
" Must not fulfill ACR definitions or criteria for any other rheumatic process"
According to that, one can only imagine that a lot of people get an SLE diagnosis when they shouldn't. I don't know if "autoimmune rash" means not lupus rashes, includes lupus rashes along with any others like dermatomyositis, or only lupus rashes
Having an SLE diagnosis can seriously impact getting health insurance and other insurances, so while it doesn't really matter so long as the right treatment for autoimmune CTD it does matter in other very important respects
I haven't heard of insurance problems with UCTD. If there were, the UCTD er could refer to the statistics, from one study.
After ten years, about one third of those with a UCTD diagnosis had no disorder; one third remained UCTD; one third evolved a defined rheumatic disorder.
From most to least frequent, the defined disorders were RA, Sjogren's, SLE, MCTD, scleroderma, vasculitis and inflammatory myositis.
( Source: Dubois p960)
I am glad she has a treatment plan for you! When and how are you getting the Mepacrine(US Quinacrine) ?
Cheers
Clare
