Clinical features of mixed connective tissue disease

Mixed connective tissue disease is defined by its clinical features. These features may occur concurrently or, more commonly, evolve sequentially. The clinical presentation commonly involves oedema of the hands, inflammatory arthritis, Raynaud phenomenon, sclerodactyly and inflammatory myositis. The arthritis is usually nonerosive but can be difficult to differentiate from rheumatoid arthritis. Myositis associated with inflammatory connective tissue disease is referred to as overlap myositis.