MIXED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE

SYMPTOMS

The standard and possible symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease include:

• Discomfort in multiple joints
• Fingertips became white and numb
• Swollen joints
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Rashes
• Muscle weakness
• Chest pain
• Cold sensitivity
• Color change in hands and feet 
• Acid reflux
• Stomach inflammation
• Breathing problems due to high blood pressure or lung tissue inflammation
• Tightening patches of skin
• Swollen hands
• Lungs, heart, and kidney problems

Call a doctor if you exhibit any of the symptoms mentioned above.

DIAGNOSIS

The doctor will conduct a physical examination to examine your painful swollen hands and joints. He/she will also ask for your medical family history and conduct a blood test to check for antibodies. Additional tests are performed for the presence of antibodies.

TREATMENT

There is no cure for MCTD, but there are medications to help manage the symptoms. These include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It includes ibuprofen and naproxen to treat inflammation and joint pain.
• Corticosteroids. It includes a steroid medication called prednisone to treat inflammation and prevent the immune system from attacking healthy tissues. It can be taken for a short period as it causes severe side effects.
• Antimalarial drugs. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is used to treat mild MCTD.
• Calcium channel blockers. Nifedipine (Procardia) and Amlodipine (Norvasc) help control Raynaud’s phenomenon.
• Immunosuppressants. It is a long-term treatment for severe cases of MCTD. It includes azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan) and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). 
• Pulmonary hypertension drugs. It includes bosentan (Tracleer) or sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra) to control pulmonary hypertension, which is the cause of death for people with MCTD.

These medications vary depending on your symptoms and the severity of the disease.

Additionally, lifestyle and home remedies will help manage the MCTD. You may want to:

• Exercise daily
• Quit smoking
• Take vitamins with iron
• Eat high-fiber foods
• Protect your hands from cold
• Limit salty foods