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What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Person With Mixed Connective Tissue Disease?
Question: ANA negative, ENA positive for RNP greater than 8. All my other blood work is ok. Dr has sent me to specialist but I have to wait a while. Dr said I have MCTD. My only symptoms/signs are low ferritin for 5 yrs although it improves to low/normal with supplements. And my hair became thinner about 5 years ago but has been the same since. I am a 36 yr old female. Could this mean I have a milder form of MCTD or UCTD? And I read that 80% of people with this disease live for ten yrs. Do people live for 15 or 20 yrs
Brief Answer:
Yes it could be milder form but get full testing done.
Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Thanks for posting your query.
I went through your query and also all the reports . First of all the diagnosis of MCTD ( Mixed Connective tissue disease ) is right , there is no ambiguity in that.
Next , coming to the survival with this disease it depends on what organ this disease affects. If it affects Lung or Heart then the survival is less but it may not affect these organs in some people and may cause some skin or joint problems only . In them the survival is more and longer.
What you have read is true for with slight change . With proper treatment and monitoring 80% of people will live for at least 10 years , means they do survive for more than 10 years. ( even 20 years ) . I have a patient who is in his 16th year of the disease and doing well.
Now coming to the severity of the disease in your case there are 2 possibilities . Either it is a milder variant or it is in its initial stages.
My advise for you is to get tested whether this disease has started affecting your organs ( especially Lungs ), don't wait for the symptoms to arise for testing.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask .
Yes it could be milder form but get full testing done.
Detailed Answer:
HI XXXXXXX
Greetings from Dr.Divakara.P
Thanks for posting your query.
I went through your query and also all the reports . First of all the diagnosis of MCTD ( Mixed Connective tissue disease ) is right , there is no ambiguity in that.
Next , coming to the survival with this disease it depends on what organ this disease affects. If it affects Lung or Heart then the survival is less but it may not affect these organs in some people and may cause some skin or joint problems only . In them the survival is more and longer.
What you have read is true for with slight change . With proper treatment and monitoring 80% of people will live for at least 10 years , means they do survive for more than 10 years. ( even 20 years ) . I have a patient who is in his 16th year of the disease and doing well.
Now coming to the severity of the disease in your case there are 2 possibilities . Either it is a milder variant or it is in its initial stages.
My advise for you is to get tested whether this disease has started affecting your organs ( especially Lungs ), don't wait for the symptoms to arise for testing.
Hope this information was useful to you.
Any clarification feel free to ask .
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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