Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
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- Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) is an entity characterized by a clinical presentation with overlapping features of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis. An important aspect of MCTD is its tendency to be associated with Anti-RNP Antibodies. Although patients initially present with features of multiple connective tissue diseases, over the course of years a single rheumatological entity tends to dominate the clinical picture. Whatever the case, the diagnosis of MCTD holds clinical importance as the disease tends to be more responsive to systemic corticosteroids and carry a better prognosis than some of the rheumatological entities listed above, especially when compared to systemic sclerosis.