Systemic Connective Tissue Disease (Pediatric)

What is systemic connective tissue disease?

Connective tissues disease refers to many disorders of the connective tissues that make up organs, including joints, muscle, skin, eyes, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. These may include mixed connective tissue disease, overlap syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Characteristics of mixed connective tissue disease may include signs of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, juvenile dermatomyositis, systemic scleroderma, Raynaud Phenomenon, elevated antinuclear antibodies, elevated levels of antibodies to U1snRNP and against U1RNA.

How is systemic connective tissue disease treated?

Usually, treatment is directed at addressing the particular problem of the child, such as arthritis.  Medications may include steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or hydroxychloroquine.