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is cvd, uctd and lupus the same?

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Posted 5/29/2007 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I was dx'd with fibro and sjogrens about 6 months ago, but my pcp believes that something else is going on. He says I show signs for autoimmune disease. I have heard so many terms and need to know if anyone can help me understand them. Are Collagen vascular disease, Undifferent connective tissue disease and lupus all the same thing?
Posted 5/29/2007 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
my3sons, I'm not familiar with Collagen Vascular Disease, but lupus and uctd are similar, but not the same. With lupus, you meet the criteria for diagnosis and your doctor is sure that you have it. With uctd, you show symptoms of certain autoimmune diseases, but it is unclear which one(s) you may have and you may not have met all of the diagnostic criteria for any of them. For me, my rheumy says I have lupus but he writes uctd on my chart so it's better for my insurance (I do meet enough of the diagnostic criteria for lupus). Some of what you end up being diagnosed with depends on your doctor. You could see 2 different doctors and get 2 different diagnoses. Hopefully your doctor can help you figure this out. Has your doctor started you on any treatment for your symptoms? Let us know if you have any other questions. Take care
Posted 5/29/2007 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hippimom2, The way you described UCTD is how my pcp explained it too. That there is a big category (collagen vascular disesase or UCTD) and all these other autoimmune diseases fall under that big category. And if you dont fit neatly into one of those, then you just get the dx of UCTD or CVD. I have been searching and saw that CVD is an older term that they dont use much anymore. I asked my pcp if I should see a Rheumy and he said maybe. He just started me on predisone for 3 or 4 weeks. All I know is that I have been on treatment for Fibro for 6 months and still feel crappy and have new symptoms. I believe I have something more than just Fibro. What ever it is, I hope they figure it out and can help me. This really sucks. Thanks for your reply Hippimom2.

Posted 5/29/2007 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully your pcp will refer you to a rheumy and hopefully you will get one who specializes in lupus and related illnesses. I would trust your instincts about what is going on with you - you live in your body and know it better than anyone. If the prednisone helps some of your symptoms that could be a pretty good indicator that you have some kind of autoimmune disease. The only thing I've heard that prednisone can make fibro symptoms worse, so you may get more pain in your muscles. I hope the prednisone helps some - it really stinks to feel like things are getting worse instead of better.
Posted 5/29/2007 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
my3sons,

The way I understand it is that there are a collection of autoimmune diseases which are all of the your body does not recognize you as yourself so it attacks it. The cause is unknown and the treatment is symptom specific. I know that many folks are "happy" to finally get a diagnosis but all that does is give a name that doctors made up to something that they don't understand. I have mixed connective tissue disease and that phrase was invented when folks had a certain collection of symptoms that had already been termed lupus, polymyositis and schleroderma. Undifferentiated connective tissue disease, I think, means that you are more likely to develop one of the three diseases (verses mctd which means you will probably continue to exhibit symptoms from all three).

I hope you consult a rheumatologist who can help you out with treatment. It seems that good (perhaps seemingly aggressive) treatment is useful but different folks need to go with different approaches. I was hesitant to begin with to take very many meds but now I believe they are saving me.

Good Luck,
Stay Strong,
Sue
Posted 5/29/2007 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Actually it is great that you got a UCTD diagnosis and that is because your PCP recognizes that you are indeed ill and is not dismissing you. I would though recommend pushing to see a rheumy though as they have more knowledge in accessing your situation and treating you accordingly. I have a UCTD diagnosis because my rheumy is trying to determine if its Lupus, Sjogren's, or Lupus/Sjogren's overlap however he is leaning more and more towards the latter. My symptoms and bloodwork are there but the bloodwork could point to both and the symptoms between the two are so similar. He KNOWS I'm sick and he treats me so that gives me much comfort. Good thing also is that the treatment for most connective tissue diseases are the same so whatever it is, you are getting the treatment you need.

Good luck and take care :)
Posted 5/29/2007 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I also have a UCTD diagnosis. My Rheumy is debating between Lupus and Sjogren's also. I also possibly have limited scleroderma. As long as I am receiving treatment I am satisfied with this diagnosis especially when it comes to insurance. I definitely think you should see a Rheumy. Take care.
Posted 5/30/2007 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Collagen vacscular disease is not a specific disease but a category of diseases like dermatomyositis, scleraderma, and rheumatoid arthritis.  There are others.  Here is a link that explains it.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001223.htm

UCTD is an overlapping connective tissue disese that is not entirely defined.  It will usally develop into a clearly diagnosable disease in time.  MCTD (mixed connective tissue disease) is my affliction and it is a combo of lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis.  Scleroderma is a collagen vascular disease that deposits collagen in tissue.  It most commonly affects skin but it can affect any organ in the body.  It is a process that is tantamount to scarring and there is no direct treatment once that happens.  I probably have some in my digestive tract and esophagus.  It was feared that I had problems in my lungs but tests showed that they were OK.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=16955

Lupus is another AI disease and is a different disease.  In my case sle is part of mctd but I also have symptoms of scleroderma and polymyositis. 

All of this is confusing to understand and each of us manifests our particular disease differently.  Lupus has been called the disease with a 1000 faces due to it's diverse nature and symptoms that often mask those of other diseases.  It can take years for some lupers to get a positive diagnosis.  MCTD is much rarer and more complicated....I refer to it as the disease with 10000 faces.   Many people with AI diseases will have symptoms, even if not diagnosed, of more than one disease.

This makes sense in a way.  Our genetic makeup is susceptible to a trigger.  Depending on the trigger (most of us will never know what that is for sure) we can develop one or another disease and often develop more than one.  Our immune systems are out of balance and misdirected.  AI diseases run in families but not the same ones.  One will have lupus and one will have RA, and another will have DM or PM.  But the underlying problem is the same...a susceptible immune system due to our genetic inheritance.

Hope that makes some sense of the mystery.  Ask more questions if you are still confused.  There are lots of good resources on the internet as well.

Bill

 

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