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Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SJMPS)
Volume-5 | Issue-12 | 1037-1040
Original Research Article
Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease among Patients Attending a Rheumatology Clinic
Dr. Akintayo Segun Oguntona, Dr. Olabanke Arike Olatunde
Published : Dec. 11, 2019
DOI : 10.36348/sjmps.2019.v05i12.004
Abstract
Background: The term undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) is used when people have symptoms and laboratory results suggestive of systemic autoimmune disease, but lack enough characteristics of a well defined connective tissue disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis. Disease in patients with undifferentiated CTD most commonly evolve into a specific defined form while others remain unchanged. Methods: This was a prospective study of patients seen in a tertiary rheumatology clinic. The study was done over three years between July 2013 to June 2016. Patients with symptoms and signs suggestive of UCTD were included in the study. Only those with significant titre of antinuclear antibody (ANA) were included. Excluded from the study were patients with definite diagnosis of specific CTD. Socio-demographic characteristics of the patients were documented. Family history of autoimmune diseases and the time of diagnosis of UCTD were also documented. Results: Five hundred and two patients were seen in the rheumatology clinic over a period of 3 years. There were 79 patients diagnosed of connective tissue diseases with a period prevalence of 15.7%. Undifferentiated connective tissue disease constituted 10.1%. There were 4 females and 2 males. Patients were aged from 18 to 64 years, with a mean age of 42±5 years. Three patients presented with lupus-like symptoms. Arthralgia was the leading symptom. ANA was uniformly positive and the patient with positive anti Ro/SSA presented with sicca symptoms. Conclusion: UCTD is not completely rare in our environment. A high index of suspicion is however needed to diagnose them.
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