| Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is also known as | | | | The lungs and kidneys are particularly at risk. Lungs |
| Sharp syndrome. Mixed connective tissue disease is a | | | | and kidneys symptoms are particularly grave |
| rheumatic disease that has features shared by lupus, | | | | involvement. The signs and symptoms of diverse |
| scleroderma, polymyosistis or dermatomyositis and | | | | connective tissue disease involve fatigue, muscle |
| rheumatoid arthritis. It is a disorder of the immune | | | | weakness, joint pain, joint swelling, swollen fingers |
| system, which normally functions to defend the body | | | | and mild fever. Raynaud's syndrome may precede |
| against invading infections and cancers, and toxins. In | | | | other manifestations by years. Diffuse systemic |
| Mixed Connective Tissue Disorder, as in other | | | | sclerosis–like skin changes and ischemic necrosis |
| autoimmune diseases parts of the complex immune | | | | or ulceration of the fingertips may occasionally |
| system is over-active and produces increased | | | | develop. Renal disease occurs in about 10% and is |
| amounts of abnormal antibodies that attack the | | | | often soft but occasionally causes morbidity or |
| patient's own organs. | | | | mortality. Sometimes pulmonary involvement is the |
| Mixed Connective Tissue Disease can assume many | | | | most serious complication. |
| parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, | | | | The treatments for Mixed Connective Tissue |
| lungs, heart, endocrine, digestive, and nervous | | | | Disorder are like to those employed for other |
| system, blood vessels which all are made up of | | | | autoimmune diseases. Corticosteroids are usually |
| connective tissue. Females are affected more | | | | useful, especially when the disease is diagnosed early. |
| frequently than males, and although it can occur at | | | | Anti-inflammatories Steroids, d-penicillimine, and |
| any age. It is estimated to attacks women eight to | | | | methotrexate are used to diminish inflammation that |
| fifteen times more often than it attacks men. The | | | | seems to lead to fibrosis. Prevention is better than |
| signs and symptoms of MCTD differ from person to | | | | cure. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and |
| person, with the symptoms of either Lupus, or | | | | vegetables. Get exercise on days you feel up to it. |
| Scleroderma, or Myositis or other autoimmune | | | | Keeping your body healthy makes you better able to |
| disease being most prevalent. The disease can range | | | | deal with the daily stress of living with a chronic |
| from mild to life threatening. | | | | illness. |