[MCTD (mixed connective tissue disease)].

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was proposed by Sharp and others in 1972. MCTD is a unique disease in which the presence of nuclear RNP antibody is characteristic and the patient shows partial symptoms of SLE, PSS and or PM/DM. Among them, Raynaud's phenomenon and sausage like finger or swollen hand are the most common symptoms. Although patients with MCTD generally respond to small amount of corticosteroid and the prognosis is not so bad, some patients with MCTD especially those with pulmonary hypertension show high mortality.