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Posted 12/24/2018 9:56 AM (GMT -5)
Have had Ulcerative Colitis since 2013 (diagnosis). Been taking Mesalamine since then and have continually been in clinical, but not endoscopic, remission.

But recently, through some interesting blood tests ordered by my Primary Care doc, then followed up on by a Rheumatologist, I was diagnosed with "Mixed Connective Tissue Disease," or MCTD. Basically, this is an auto-immune disorder where you display various symptoms of Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma and a couple other disorders without being fully diagnosed as having any of them in particular. Essentially, it's your immune system just messing with you in various ways.

This explains a lot for me. Joint pain, stiffness, fatigue, vitiligo, UC, etc. My immune system is out of control.

But I'm just wondering, does anyone else here have "MCTD"?

Thanks,
DeWayne
Posted 12/24/2018 2:52 PM (GMT -5)
I'm curious what testing you had specifically for that conclusive diagnosis .

I have just been diagnosed with Sjogren's and have other autoimmune. My Rheumy mentioned she thought it interesting that my Sjogren's didn't match with a primary.

Autoimmune loves to party together....invited or not.

q
Posted 12/24/2018 11:35 PM (GMT -5)
I think you have your terms mixed up (easy to do with these darn diseases).

{Edit: Maybe I have them mixed up a little too!}

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is when you actually DO have the full requirements for more than one of the classic autoimmune diseases (lupus, scleroderma, RA, sjogren's, etc). For example, a person is said to have MCTD if they have lupus and scleroderma at the same time.

Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, which is what you described, is when you have features of several of them but don't meet the full definition for any of them.

I have UCTD - I have high levels of antinuclear antibodies, and I have some features of lupus and a little of sjogren's but not enough to have a full diagnosis of either. My neurologist thinks I have a form of vasculitis too, but the rheumatologist thinks it's not full vasculitis but rather another manifestation of the UCTD.

Post Edited (beave) : 12/24/2018 11:03:30 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/25/2018 1:01 AM (GMT -5)
I'm reading more about MCTD right now, and I'm seeing different definitions depending on what site I go to.

Some define it very similarly to UCTD, ie, some features of multiple conditions but not meeting the full requirements, but with a positive blood test for anti-RNP. Others define it as a mixture of lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis (those three and only those three).

It does appear that the requirements for positive, high-ANAs are there, along with requirements for positive anti-RNP antibodies.

That blood test for anti-RNP antibodies seems to be a key in distinguishing between MCTD and UCTD. If anti-RNP antibodies are present, the diagnosis is more likely MCTD. If tests for those antibodies come back negative, it's more likely to be diagnosed as UCTD.

I had a high positive test for ANAs (speckled type), but my blood test for anti-RNP antibodies was negative. That, plus the mix of symptoms, got me the UCTD diagnosis.

I'm guessing you had high positive ANAs plus positive anti-RNP antibodies, plus a mix of symptoms, to get the MCTD diagnosis.

Post Edited (beave) : 12/24/2018 11:16:08 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/25/2018 2:51 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the info!
q
Posted 12/26/2018 1:27 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, thanks for pointing out the confusion between UCTD and MCTD (and the confusing overlap!)

Truthfully, I don't know which I have, or if there's even a relevant difference. My Rheumatoid Factor was Negative. My ANA was Positive, homogeneous. And my ANA Titer was 1:80, which the Rheumatologist said was not especially bad.

He said "Mixed CTD" but it could be "Undifferentiated" for all I know. Realistically, I'm not sure it makes a lot of difference.

He also said he could treat with Plaquinil, but given its potential for side effects (including vision impairment), and my relatively mild symptoms, he advised against it. Instead, he thinks that possibly upping my dose of Azathioprine (Imuran), which I take for my Ulcerative Colitis, might be in order in an attempt to kill several birds with one stone. I'm only taking a low dose as it is, and upping it is probably called for in regards to my UC, which has never been in endoscopic remission.

Thanks,
D
Posted 12/26/2018 11:19 AM (GMT -5)
I may have this. I tested positive for ANA and it was homogenous, but a low level. IgG is positve, IgM is negative, anti-DNA was negative. I have bad joint pain that moves continuously. My rheumatologist says I have a connective tissue disorder stemming from the UC? All I know is that I am in continuous pain, especially hips, but my shoulders elbows wrists and fingers are really feeling it lately and I developed plantar fascitis in one foot and have difficulty walking any distance. On the positive side, my ankles don't seem hurt. smile I am hoping to get a better dx in Jan/Feb now that the infliximab should be pretty much out of my system. Rheumatologist is recommending treatment with Methotrexate. Currently she has given me Tramadol but it doesn't do much, much like Tylenol. I miss the days when I could take ibuprofen!!
Posted 12/26/2018 9:43 PM (GMT -5)
I wanted to say thanks for this one because I also developed some vitiligo and have muscle stiffness etc now. I had a 1:360 Ana. Interesting that others do too! But like you all said, if the immune system is wacky, other things can come with it. Just trying not to overthink it and hopefully gut healing will help the other things for everyone too.
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