Hi, my mother got a diagnose of one doctor rheumatoid arthritis, the other said it is Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. He claims that there are not enough specific signs for rheumatoid arthritis. Which one should we believe?
There are a few diseases which have alike symptoms, and that makes it hard to distinguish, specially in the beginning of disorder. Specific analysis like ANA- antinuclear antibody, and RF- rheumatoid factor being positive or negative indicate specific condition. Patients with an a connective-tissue disease but not with all signs and test results seen in a specific disease are diagnosed with undifferentiated connective-tissue diseases -UCTD. In 1980., it was suggested to use UCTD as dia gnose in unclear cases. The definition of UCTD is still under debate, although it is generally required that patient has positive ANA test and 3 years of usual symptoms.
My father is suffering from undifferentiated connective tissue disease.
Is this UCTD dangerous, and can it be cured totally? Will all things be ok? I am really tensed because his ANA reports are positive...