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...
Just read about a new drug for Lupus. Might be something for us too! It is called Benlysta. Just approved by the FDA. Supposed to be good for reducing the inflammation in muscles there by reducing the pain and damage. Does not work as well on organs.
The gist of the article said if the drug companies see that money can be made on drugs for Lupus and other autoimmune diseases they will be willing to do more research for MORE drugs and people with those diseases will get better treatment and maybe an easy cure.
As it is, autoimmune diseases are not top priority because not enough people uses the drugs to make a lot of money on them. Not like hypertension, that everyone seems to have these days.
They think the Lupus drug will help around 200,000 people in the U.S. But MCTD is even more rare.
This drug was origionally supposed to be used for people with RA, but didnt do the job. Then, it was discovered that it did help those with Lupus.
Of course, people recognize Lupus. MCTD- not so much. I am tired of trying to convince people that it is a disease, not a bunch of symptoms that cannot be diagnosed as anything. Some day, maybe people will be diagnosed, and cured with 14 days on an easy to get med.
Mary Ann
The gist of the article said if the drug companies see that money can be made on drugs for Lupus and other autoimmune diseases they will be willing to do more research for MORE drugs and people with those diseases will get better treatment and maybe an easy cure.
As it is, autoimmune diseases are not top priority because not enough people uses the drugs to make a lot of money on them. Not like hypertension, that everyone seems to have these days.
They think the Lupus drug will help around 200,000 people in the U.S. But MCTD is even more rare.
This drug was origionally supposed to be used for people with RA, but didnt do the job. Then, it was discovered that it did help those with Lupus.
Of course, people recognize Lupus. MCTD- not so much. I am tired of trying to convince people that it is a disease, not a bunch of symptoms that cannot be diagnosed as anything. Some day, maybe people will be diagnosed, and cured with 14 days on an easy to get med.
Mary Ann
The significant thing is that, if it makes cash for the drug companies, they may work on more meds that may help us more!
Mary Ann
Hope it is as good as the blurb.
I totally agree with you about trying to convince people that it is a real disease and not just a bunch of symptoms. I read once that MCTD used to be called Sharps disease. I think we need to go back to calling it that, then maybe people would actually believe it is something real!
Kate