Mixed Connective Tissue Disease:
View cases of MCTD
Clinical:
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) has clinical findings which overlap those of systemic sclerosis, SLE, and polymyositis-dermatomyositis. Women are affected more than men. Patients have high titers of an antinuclear anti-ribonucleoprotein antibodies. The clinical course is prolonged and relatively benign, often with good response to anti-inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids. Many forms of pulmonary disease can occur in these patients including pulmonary vasculitis, pulmonary arterial hypertension (up to 50%), interstitial lung disease (19% to 80%), and pleural effusion (6% to 40%) or pleural thickening. Mediastinal adenopathy is commonly identified during CT evaluation of the lungs. The interstitial lung disease which occurs is indistinguishable from UIP/IPF histologically, but typically has a more indolent course.REFERENCES:
(1) J Thorac Imag 1992; 7(2):55-61
(2) Mayo Clin Proc 1985; 60: 813-821
(3) Radiographics 2002; Kim EA, et al. Interstitial lung diseases associated with collagen vascular diseases: radiologic and histopathologic findings. 22: S151-165
