What are the symptoms of UCTD?
What are the symptoms of UCTD? Symptoms of undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) can include arthritis, arthralgia (aching joint pain), alopecia (hair loss), dry eyes, dry mouth, leukopenia (low white blood cell count), low-grade fever, oral ulcers, rashes, Raynaud’s syndrome, and photosensitivity.
Is UCTD the same as lupus?
Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a term suggested by LeRoy 30 years ago to denote autoimmune disease that does not meet criteria for established illnesses such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, Sjogren’s syndrome, vasculitis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Can UCTD be cured?
It is important to recognize that there is no cure for UCTD. Therefore, early recognition and treatment of the disease is essential. In addition, because it is a chronic disease, people often require medical therapy for many years.
Is UCTD a rare disease?
Regarding the evolution of a stable undifferentiated connective tissue disease, it is rare for this condition to progress into a defined disease, such as systematic lupus erythematosus, which only occurs in 10% of patients, especially if the condition remains stable for more than three years.
Is UCTD life threatening?
Overall, patients with UCTD have an excellent prognosis. Although patients with UCTD typically do not have major organ damage or severe symptoms that require long-term immunosuppressive medications, they often suffer from fatigue, depression, and anxiety which can lead to impaired quality of life.
What does a UCTD flare feel like?
Joint pain For many people with UCTD, the main signs are achy joints and arthritis in the elbows, wrists, hands, and knees in a symmetrical pattern, says Dr. Lockshin. People with UCTD generally don’t have as much swelling and the pain is transient.
Is UCTD serious?
What triggers UCTD?
UCTD is difficult to study because it affects people with so many different symptoms and blood markers. One theory is that some people have a genetic predisposition or risk of developing connective tissue disease and then experience an environmental trigger, such as an infection.
Can UCTD affect the brain?
Common symptoms associated with UCTD Problems with the kidneys, liver, lungs or brain are extremely rare.
What is undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD)?
Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is a condition in which a patient’s symptoms don’t quite meet the “criteria” (the markers or indicators doctors use to make a diagnosis) of a well-defined connective tissue disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus or scleroderma.
Is UCTD an autoimmune disease?
Like other, well-defined connective tissue diseases, UCTD is thought to be a systemic autoimmune disorder. For unknown reasons, the immune system, which normally fights off invaders such as bacterial and viral infections, may start to think of the body itself as foreign and begin to fight against it.
What does UCTD stand for?
“Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD): a review of the literature and a proposal for preliminary classification criteria” (PDF). Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 17 (5): 615–20.
Will UCTD go away or get worse?
They are also looking for markers to help predict whether the disease may go away, remain unchanged or get worse. It is currently believed that less than 20% of patients with UCTD go on to develop a definite connective tissue disease.