Mixed connective tissue disease: a follow-up study of 12 patients with special reference to cold sensitivity and skin manifestations

Abstract

A great variety of skin manifestations and the frequent occurrence of cold sensitivity, vascular symptoms with peripheral painful ulcerations, headache of migraine type, and muscle and joint symptoms are described in a series of 12 patients with an overlap syndrome compatible with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The patients have been followed up for an average of 7 years. The peripheral symptoms on the extremities in particular were exacerbated by exposure to cold and caused much inconvenience and early disability for the patients. In addition to the symptoms generally connected with MCTD, some of the patients presented signs of other diseases of autoimmune type as well. For instance 2 of the patients presented autoimmune thyroiditis and one patient developed myasthenia gravis and cold agglutinin syndrome.

A Rare Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Leg Ulcers and Degos-Like Lesions

“…One study described DD-like lesions and leg ulcers in SLE patient with Lupus Anticoagulant but concomitant leg ulcers and DD have not been previously reported. 4 Ulcers in our patient had features of livedoid vasculopathy, but tenderness could not be elicited due to his altered sensorium.…”

“…Many cases presenting with cutaneous DD have only laboratory findings suggestive of CTDs. [3][4][5] Till date 12 cases of DD with SLE have been reported, with majority in females. 6 Degos-like lesions have preceded other features of SLE by 2 years and 8 years in two cases.…”

Anetoderma may be a warning sign of autoimmunity: A cohort study

“…Our results highlight associations between anetoderma incidence and autoimmunity, which was previously limited to case reports. 3 , 4 , 5 Of note, we did not find any significant incidence of other major comorbidities such as heart failure, diabetes, renal disease, or liver disease in our anetoderma cohort to provide meaningful comment.…”

“…While lesions of anetoderma are widely considered benign, 1 , 2 case reports have associated its incidence with systemic autoimmune conditions. 3 , 4 , 5 We performed a retrospective cohort study to assess clinical presentations of anetoderma and associated diagnoses and comorbidities.…”