Miscellaneous Group

Miscellaneous Group

Includes mixed connective tissue disease, erythema multiforme (Stevens Johnson Syndrome) and erythema nodosum etc.

Overlap Or Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

General Considerations

There are overlapping symptoms and signs of rheumatic diseases such as SLE, dermatomyositis and scleroderma. With time in many patients manifestations evolve to one disease.

Clinical Features

These include polyarteritis, sclerodermal skin changes, butterfly facial rash, fever, Raynaud's phenomenon, mucle weakness, abnormal gastrointestinal motility, lymphadenopathy hepatosplenomegaly, and CNS symptoms and signs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on overlapping clinical features. Raised levels of antibodies to RNA nucleoprotein and other antinuclear antibodies are almost always present.