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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffEarly indications of mixed connective tissue disease typically are nonspecific and may be mistaken for any of the three connective tissue diseases — lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis. Signs and symptoms include:
- Raynaud's disease — blood vessel spasms that interrupt blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears and nose
- Fatigue
- General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
- Muscle pains (myalgias)
- Joint pains (athralgias)
- Mild fever
- Joint swelling
- Swollen hands and puffy fingers
Raynaud's disease may begin years before other symptoms. As the disease progresses, it can affect any of the major organ systems, including skin, joints, muscles, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, central nervous system and blood cells.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if:
- You have signs and symptoms that are bothersome or interfere with your daily routine
- You've been diagnosed with lupus or other connective tissue disease and you begin developing new signs and symptoms
- Bennett RM. Clinical manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
- Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec04/ch032/ch032c.html. Accessed Dec. 25, 2009.
- Hoffman RW, et al. Immune pathogenesis of mixed connective tissue disease: A short analytical review. Clinical Immunology. 2008;128:8.
- Bennett RM. Definition and diagnosis of mixed connective tissue disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
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