Joined
·
1,471 Posts
Hi Happywife
By definition a diagnosis of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease means that you have evidence of an overlap of several diseases, including Lupus. However the diagnosis of MCTD is usually clinched if the presence of specific antobodies (RNP and snRNP) are detected. Do you know if these were detected in your bloods? Most people with MCTD will have these antibodies and the presence of a high level of them, without the other antibodies present in Lupus, is reasonably specific for a MCTD diagnosis.
There is another category called Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) which is less specific than MCTD. Basically that means that there is clinical evidence and positive blood results present but that the patient doesnt fulfil the classification criteria for one of the established connective tissue disorders, e.g. Lupus. It doesnt mean that they dont have Lupus - there is just not enough evidence for some doctors to specifically diagnose it.
Having said that it is very possible to continue to develop other antibodies over time and often people will have their diagnosis tweaked or changed depending on what is emerging in their blood.
The bottom line is that whatever the final diagnosis ends up being, you definitely have a connective tissue disorder which needs treatment and monitoring. I hope to goodness your Rheumy will start some treatment at your next appointment.
When were you diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Syndrome? Are you on any aspirin or blood thinners for this?
If you have MCTD then, as Katharine says, the medications are much the same as if you had specific Lupus antibodies (like dsDNA for example). By the way not everyone with Lupus has these specific antibodies anyway. Sometimes a patient's 'diagnosis' can depend on the physician and how they are interpreting the blood results.
MCTD is a complicated diagnosis and you will need careful regular monitoring to ensure that treatment is working for you.
Let us know how you get on with your appointment and I wish you the very best of luck. Feel free to ask any questions and dont forget to ask your Rheumy questions about proposed treatments, follow up etc. Its also good to get to know a bit about the various blood tests you are having and we can certainly help you understand them a bit better here.
Oh, by the way, you dont have to have anemia to have Lupus. Certainly it's common enough with some people but not with everyone.
In the meantime here are a few links to information on MCTD which you might find helpful
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3417.htm
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch068/ch068f.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/DS00675
Take care
Joan:rose:
By definition a diagnosis of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease means that you have evidence of an overlap of several diseases, including Lupus. However the diagnosis of MCTD is usually clinched if the presence of specific antobodies (RNP and snRNP) are detected. Do you know if these were detected in your bloods? Most people with MCTD will have these antibodies and the presence of a high level of them, without the other antibodies present in Lupus, is reasonably specific for a MCTD diagnosis.
There is another category called Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease (UCTD) which is less specific than MCTD. Basically that means that there is clinical evidence and positive blood results present but that the patient doesnt fulfil the classification criteria for one of the established connective tissue disorders, e.g. Lupus. It doesnt mean that they dont have Lupus - there is just not enough evidence for some doctors to specifically diagnose it.
Having said that it is very possible to continue to develop other antibodies over time and often people will have their diagnosis tweaked or changed depending on what is emerging in their blood.
The bottom line is that whatever the final diagnosis ends up being, you definitely have a connective tissue disorder which needs treatment and monitoring. I hope to goodness your Rheumy will start some treatment at your next appointment.
When were you diagnosed with Antiphospholipid Syndrome? Are you on any aspirin or blood thinners for this?
If you have MCTD then, as Katharine says, the medications are much the same as if you had specific Lupus antibodies (like dsDNA for example). By the way not everyone with Lupus has these specific antibodies anyway. Sometimes a patient's 'diagnosis' can depend on the physician and how they are interpreting the blood results.
MCTD is a complicated diagnosis and you will need careful regular monitoring to ensure that treatment is working for you.
Let us know how you get on with your appointment and I wish you the very best of luck. Feel free to ask any questions and dont forget to ask your Rheumy questions about proposed treatments, follow up etc. Its also good to get to know a bit about the various blood tests you are having and we can certainly help you understand them a bit better here.
Oh, by the way, you dont have to have anemia to have Lupus. Certainly it's common enough with some people but not with everyone.
In the meantime here are a few links to information on MCTD which you might find helpful
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3417.htm
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch068/ch068f.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mixed-connective-tissue-disease/DS00675
Take care
Joan:rose:
