Connective Tissue Disorders are illnesses that affect the connective tissues in the body. Connective tissues are supporting tissue that surrounds other tissues and organs.
Some inherited diseases that affect the connective tissues include:
– Can have tissue abnormalities in the heart, aorta, lungs, eyes, and skeleton.
– Can have loose, flexible skin and joints
– An inherited disorder of elastin
The classic immune-related connective tissue diseases include:
Symptoms of Connective Tissue Disorder:
Symptoms will depend upon the type of illness associated. Some symptoms include:
Diagnosing Connective Tissue Disorder
Connective tissue disorders are diagnosed when patients demonstrate the clinical features (exam findings) of overlap illnesses (as described above) and have high amounts of the antibodies ANA and anti-RNP in their blood
Treating Connective Tissue Disorder
Again, treatment will depend on the type of illness within CTD that is being treated. Therapies must be targeted for each of the organ systems affected. In general, treatment is often directed at suppressing the inflammation present in the tissues by using anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications.
Complications of Connective Tissue Disorder:
Complications of connective tissue disease are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by connective tissue disease. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of connective tissue disease and complications of connective tissue disease is unclear.
Prognosis of Connective Tissue Disorder:
The prognosis for patients who have connective tissue disease varies from a benign course to severe progressive disease. In approximately one third of patients the clinical symptoms go into long-term remission.
One third of patients have a severe, progressive disease course. Persistent morbidity often is attributable to arthritis, easy fatiguability, and dyspnea on exertion.
The most severe clinical manifestation is pulmonary hypertension which contributes to premature death in patients with conntective tissue disorders.
Resources for Patients
Connective Tissue Disorder Site
Lupus Foundation of America
Healthline
I was just diagnosed in Jan with CTD and I am devastated. The physician I went to is suggesting high dose Prednisone over the next six months along with a drug called Mesotrexate ( spelling )…nevertheless I am hesitant to take any of it. I am a strict vitamin taker and never use anu pills. My hands and arms are inflamed every morning and I do not get mobility back until I have been up and about for a few hours. I am undecided as to what course to follow…some have told me not to take steroids and to try holistic methods. Any suggestions?
I know your post was a long time ago. But I have been on prednisone for while now and methotrexate for a month. SO far the prednisone is my miracle drug and allows me to function, but I try to only take it when I am really bad. The methotrexate hasn’t been bad to me, just tired and not really getting any relief. My fingers and wrists and shoulders get so painful in the mornings it is hard to even brush my teeth. I would be interested to see if any of it helped you.
There are a lot of encouraging studies being done on the benefits of certain foods and an anti inflammatory diet. There are also herbal and natural supplements that can help with this too. If they work for you then you are far better off than using steroids and dealing with the side effects of many various meds
I would really like to know the name of the natural supplements. I feel like I do not have a life. My days are spent in pain. Most days I stay in bed. Please help me.
I was diagnosed with MCTD in 2004, immediately before my wedding. I was initially diagnosed with Raynaud’s, which caused very painful sores around some of my fingernails, which kept me from being able to open bridal shower wedding gifts. I knew there was something seriously wrong when I couldn’t raise my arms high enough to wash my hair in the shower, thus requiring my husband to help me, who was 33 at that time. I have symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis, fibromyalgia, degenerative discs, and I’m also told Lupus, with very painful and inflamed joints in my hands and upper body. Within the last week or so just typing a few words causes burning and pain in my hands. I work full-time, commute 2 hours a day (yes, the SF Bay Area) and have two young boys. One of my docs told me over and over that I shouldn’t work at all, but my reality is that in order to live I must work.
I took a very low dose of Prednisone for years, but was weaned off of it several years ago. I was recently put back on the low dose for about a week. Now I take Plaquenil, Methotrexate, Nifedepine (Raynaud’s), Nortriptyline (to help with pain and sleep), and a few other heavy meds to help with the significant back and neck pain. My doctor has told me that I really need to continue taking the Plaquenil and we’ve increased the Methotrexate by two mgs.
But the reality is, I live in significant pain each and every day. But what else can I do? I need to function and have to function, so I do the best that I can, every day. If you are inflamed and in serious pain, Prednisone is a great drug. My doc wanted me on it for a couple of weeks to see if that type of med helped my pain. And since it did help that pain, we will discuss other medications that may work best for me, as Prednisone did.
I do feel for you and hope you have supportive people around you. I have a husband who says he understands and will let me rest if I’m really flared, but I can’t let my boys see me in that state either. What I keep thinking is that I just need to do the best that I can and to take each day one at a time. With the recent death of my mother this past November, stress has really added to how I feel each day. So if you have others around you to help with children or the home duties, take them up on it. I just know that I’ve had to slow down a lot this past year. I know things will get done, but I am only one person who is doing her best!