Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease
What is it?
Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease is a condition that is characterized by the presence of symptoms and laboratory features that suggest an autoimmune connective tissue disorder but do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific connective tissue disease such as lupus, scleroderma, or rheumatoid arthritis.
8 Alikes with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease
Learn from others
who are experiencing
Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease.
Additional names
This group contains additional names:
- UCTD
Signs & symptoms
The symptoms of UCTD are varied and may include:
* Fatigue
* Joint pain and stiffness
* Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers turning white or blue in response to cold or stress)
* Skin rashes
* Muscle weakness
* Shortness of breath
* Dry eyes and mouth
* Swollen glands
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of UCTD is based on a combination of clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and exclusion of other connective tissue diseases. Some of the laboratory tests that may be used to diagnose UCTD include:
* Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test
* Anti-Ro/La Antibody test
* Rheumatoid factor (RF) test
* Complete Blood Count (CBC)
* Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
* C-reactive protein (CRP) test
Treatment
The treatment of UCTD is aimed at controlling the symptoms and preventing complications. Treatment may include:
* Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for joint pain and stiffness.
* Corticosteroids such as prednisone for more severe symptoms such as muscle weakness or inflammation.
* Hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, is often used to treat skin rashes and joint pain.
* Immunosuppressive drugs such as methotrexate may be used to suppress the immune system in severe cases.
* Monitoring for complications such as lung or heart involvement, which may require additional treatment.
☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.
Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.
Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:
Find people who are
experiencing a similar
medical reality
Free
Alike Wisdom
Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences
You might also like