Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)
1. Big picture
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an overlap systemic autoimmune disease. It combines clinical features of:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Systemic sclerosis
- Polymyositis/dermatomyositis
- Rheumatoid arthritis-like inflammatory arthritis
The key exam phrase is:
Raynaud phenomenon + swollen/puffy hands + overlap autoimmune features + high-titer anti-U1-RNP antibody = MCTD.
The most important long-term complications are pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). MCTD is classically associated with anti-U1-ribonucleoprotein (anti-U1-RNP) antibodies and overlapping features of at least two connective tissue diseases. ([NCBI][1])
Unlock the rest of this topic
Subscribe to Internal Medicine for $10/month and unlock all 229 topics — full exam-structured notes, the State Exam questions integrated into every topic, and the downloadable Anki deck. Cancel anytime.
- ✓All 229 Internal Medicine topics, exam-structured
- ✓State Exam questions in every topic
- ✓Downloadable Anki deck (.apkg)
- ✓Cancel anytime
Already subscribed? Sign in