MCTD = RA?

[AMDP]

Can Connect Tissue Disease lead to Rheumatoid Arthritis?

[MissusTee]

No, rheumatoid arthritis is a condition in its own right, however when you have one autoimmune condition you are more likely to be diagnosed with another, it's not automatic though.

[LucyJean]

One doesn't lead to the other. By this I mean that having a connective tissue disease does not cause you to have RA. It is possible to have both conditions. When you have an autoimmune condition then it doesn't always fall strictly into one camp or the other. There are lots of instances where people have overlap between a number of conditions. You can get overlap between RA and Lupus, Lupus and Scleroderma, Sjogrens and Scleroderma/Lupus and so on.

Hope that makes sense

Lucy x

[Hidden]

I agree as my diagnosis is primary Sjögren’s with overlap CTD, presently pointing most to LCSSc/ CREST. I was initially diagnosed -or rather probably misdiagnosed - with RA 9 years ago.

The way it was explained to me is that most people’s Sjögren’s, MCTD or UCTD don’t progress onto become other related autoimmune conditions - they continue to relapse remit or remain the same ie super dry or same mix of CTDs.

But overlap means that another connective tissue disease is progressing on top of the existing one, meaning we meet the diagnostic criteria for more than one rheumatic disease. The Scleroderma Professor explained that I’m unusual and unlucky though because most people with primary Sjögren’s will not have a progressive type of disease from about 5 years after onset. Same applies to MCTD and UCTD I believe but a minority would progress to have a full blown CTD - which could include RA

[AMDP]

That is really interesting thank you Twitchytoes. FYI I also have twitchy toes. I have developed Sjogrens and am having a flare a the moment. It is horrible so my heart goes out to you. Ax