Clinical Analysis Of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease In 15 Cases

Objective: To study the clinical features and treatments of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD).Methods: 15 patients with definite MCTD were retrospectively studied, and the clinical data about their ages,courses of the disease, clinical manifestations, immunological features and treatments were reviewed and analyzed.Results: The primarily incipient symptom of MCTD was Raynaud's phenomenon. Raynaud's phenomenon, arthralgia/arthritis, fever, muscle involvement, swollen hands/sclerodactyly and abnormally elevated IgG and ESR levels were seen frequently in the disease course. Morbidity of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis was 40%. Renal involvement was not found in 15 cases of MCTD patients. 14 patients were treated with corticosteroids, while 8 patients with methotrexate.Conclusion: MCTD has distinct clinical manifestation and laboratory examination with high incidence of pulmonary involvement. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents are used in most patients of MCTD.