MCTD Support Group
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) or Sharp's syndrome is a human autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body. MCTD combines features of polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic scleroderma and is thus considered an overlap syndrome. MCTD commonly causes joint pain/swelling, Raynaud phenomenon, muscle inflammation, and scarring of...
1:80 is borderline positive and many people have a 1:80 titer and no
symptoms of any diseas state. My ANA was 1:80 everytime I got
tested throughout my 20's and 30's (my mom has had RA since
she was 25 so I periodically had testing done for that reason). When
I actually began having symptoms of MCTD about 6 years ago,beginning w/ Raynaud's and shoulder/upper arm discomfort, then swollen "sausage" fingers, my ANA titer had jumped to >1:1280.
However, after my initial flare subsided, my ANA titer remained at >1:1280, so I don't think the ANA numbers correlate with how severe your symptoms are at any given point in time. Many people on this support group site report low ANA results but have symptoms much more debillitating than mine.
Hope this helps.