Patient's question:
I want to know what causes mixed connective tissue disease. I always feel pain all over my body. In addition to nausea and dizziness, are these all symptoms of mixed connective tissue disease?Doctor's answer:
Regarding systemic scleroderma, 85° Raynaud's phenomenon. Early, fingers become swollen and hardened, fingers become thin like sausages, esophageal peristalsis slows down. Dermatomyositis-like manifestations appear, purplish-red edema spots on eyelids, purplish-red papules and swollen spots on the back of finger joints, proximal muscle weakness and myalgia. The heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and central nervous system may be affected, but the whole body may become weak and feverish. High-titer anti-NRNP antibodies (characteristic), anti-nuclear antibodies are granular, with high titer, high serum creatine kinase, anemia, leukocytosis, high gamma globulin, and rapid blood sedimentation.