Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose, because its symptoms are similar to many other autoimmune diseases.
Early detection and treatment of the disease is very important to limit dangerous complications and improve the patient's quality of life.
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease: A Rare Autoimmune Disease
Ms. NTH, 30 years old, went to Medlatec General Hospital after discovering unusual red rashes on her cheeks. After performing tests and thorough examination, doctors determined that she had a rare autoimmune disease, called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD).
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Ms. H. said that she had long suffered from thrombocytopenia of unknown cause and was maintaining treatment with Medrol 2mg/day. However, in recent days, she suddenly discovered that her cheeks were red, forming large rashes, the skin was tight and there were no blisters. Realizing the abnormality, she went to Medlatec for examination.
After a clinical examination, the doctors ordered an ANA (antinuclear antibody) test and a series of other autoimmune tests.
The results showed positive test results for many autoimmune antibodies, especially anti-Ribonucleoprotein (Anti-U1-RNP) and Anti-SS-A antibodies. At the same time, blood tests also recorded a decrease in platelet count at 71 G/L.
Based on test results and examination, doctors diagnosed her with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), a complex and rare autoimmune disease that can cause serious damage to many organs in the body.
According to MSc. Dr. Tran Thi Thu, Dermatology Specialist at Medlatec General Hospital, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by overlapping symptoms of many different autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polymyositis and rheumatoid arthritis. MCTD is a dangerous disease that can damage many important organs in the body such as the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver.
“MCTD is characterized by the simultaneous appearance of autoimmune antibodies such as ANA and anti-U1-RNP. The body's immune system mistakenly identifies normal tissues of the body as harmful agents, thereby attacking and causing inflammation and damage to organs,” Dr. Thu explained.
Although the exact cause of the disease remains unknown, genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors may play an important role in its onset.
Risk factors include genetics: Having a family member with an autoimmune disease increases the risk of developing MCTD; environmental: Viral infections, exposure to toxic chemicals, or UV rays can trigger the disease. Hormonal: Estrogen may increase the risk of the disease in women.
Symptoms of MCTD are varied and can progress rapidly. In the early stages, people may experience nonspecific signs such as fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, or low-grade fever.
One common manifestation of the disease is Raynaud's syndrome, which causes fingers or toes to become cold, pale, and turn blue-purple when exposed to cold or stress.
If not treated promptly, the disease can cause serious damage to organs such as:
Heart: Myocarditis, mitral valve prolapse.
Lungs: Interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary hypertension.
Kidney: Nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis.
Central nervous system: Aseptic meningitis.
Currently, Ms. H. has had a personalized treatment plan developed by a doctor at MEDLATEC that is tailored to her specific condition. The doctor also recommended that she avoid direct exposure to sunlight, use sunscreen with a high SPF, and maintain a healthy diet to support immune health.
Dr. Thu said that early diagnosis and timely treatment of mixed connective tissue disease are very important to limit complications. Patients with MCTD should have regular check-ups to monitor the progression of the disease and prevent organ damage.
In addition, to reduce the risk of disease or control the disease effectively, doctors recommend that patients maintain healthy habits such as avoiding sunlight, not smoking, keeping the body warm in cold weather, maintaining a balanced diet and doing light exercise. Yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques also help control stress, supporting mental and physical health.
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose, because its symptoms are similar to many other autoimmune diseases.
Early detection and treatment of the disease is very important to limit dangerous complications and improve the patient's quality of life. Ms. H. was fortunate to be detected in time and is currently being treated according to the correct medical regimen to effectively control the disease.
Successful laparoscopic surgery for early stage gastric cancer patient
Mr. Ngoc, 48 years old, in Hau Giang, came to the doctor because of a persistent dull pain in the upper abdomen. The results of the gastroscopy showed that the entire gastric mucosa was inflamed and congested, and there were ulcer-like lesions in the cardiac region.
During the endoscopy, the doctor noticed that the stomach lining showed signs of abnormalities, so a biopsy was performed to check. The results showed that Mr. Ngoc had poorly differentiated carcinoma, with signet ring cells - a malignant form of cancer, the cells do not adhere well, and are prone to metastasis.
To prevent the cancer cells from spreading, the patient needs surgery to remove the tumor. However, because the tumor is located in the upper part of the stomach, the surgery becomes more complicated.
Doctors had to perform surgery to remove the upper part of the stomach and reconnect the esophagus to the lower part of the stomach so that the patient could eat normally. In addition, doctors also performed a D2 lymph node dissection to prevent disease recurrence and lymph node metastasis.
The surgery lasted more than 5 hours and was performed using an endoscope. Doctors carefully examined organs such as the liver and peritoneum and confirmed that there were no metastases. After completing the surgical steps, the doctor connected the esophagus and stomach in a “spade-shaped” way.
During the surgery, the doctor immediately sent the specimen for a cold biopsy. The results returned after about 30-60 minutes, showing that the cut surface was free of cancer cells, which helped preserve the remaining part of the patient's stomach.
After the surgery, Mr. Ngoc recovered quickly. On the second day after the surgery, he was able to eat liquids and walk normally. He was discharged after 5 days of treatment.
Pathology results showed that Mr. Ngoc had poorly invasive adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell, at stage 1. This is an early stage, the cancer cells have not metastasized to the lymph nodes and have not invaded around the nerves. However, 3/30 lymph nodes have metastasized, so Mr. Ngoc needs to continue additional treatment at the Oncology Department.
Dr. Do Minh Hung, Director of the Endoscopy and Endoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said that laparoscopic upper gastrectomy is a difficult surgery, requiring highly skilled doctors. In addition to thorough lymph node dissection to prevent recurrence, accurate post-operative anastomosis suturing helps limit gastric reflux and improve the patient's quality of life.
Stomach cancer is currently the third leading cause of death in Vietnam, after liver cancer. This disease can occur at any age, but is most common in people over 50, especially men.
However, stomach cancer is currently on the rise and tends to be younger. Because the symptoms of the disease are often unclear and easily confused with common digestive problems such as stomach ulcers or digestive disorders, the disease is often detected late, when it is already in an advanced or metastatic stage.
Dr. Do Minh Hung recommends that everyone should have regular health check-ups, especially those with high risk factors such as people infected with Helicobacter pylori (HP); people with stomach polyps or recurrent stomach ulcers; people with a history of surgery for benign stomach diseases; people aged 45 and over or with a family history of stomach cancer.
Regular screening and endoscopy help detect stomach cancer early, thereby improving treatment effectiveness and patient survival.
Successful detection and treatment of cerebral malaria patient after a business trip to West Africa
The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases announced that it had admitted a patient named PTTT (39 years old, from Vinh Phuc) in critical condition due to malignant malaria, cerebral malaria and shock complications. The patient was admitted after a long period of high fever, fatigue and low platelet count, leading doctors to initially suspect that she had dengue fever.
Before being admitted to the hospital, Ms. T. had acute fever and fatigue that lasted for 3 days. After 4 days of treatment without any improvement, her condition became more serious.
She was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases on December 25, 2024, with symptoms of high fever, chills, low blood pressure, impaired consciousness, multiple organ failure, hemolysis and severe coagulation disorder. At this time, the patient was resuscitated, put on a ventilator and put on dialysis.
After carefully examining her epidemiological history, doctors discovered that Ms. T. had been on a 2-month business trip to Sierra Leone (a country in West Africa where malaria is rampant). Before returning home, she had transited in Ethiopia and Thailand, where malaria may also be prevalent. With her clinical signs and epidemiological history, doctors suspected that Ms. T. had contracted malaria.
On December 26, test results showed that Ms. T. was positive for the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite - a strain that causes severe malaria and is currently very common in African countries. The parasite density in the patient's blood was very high, up to 182,667 kst/mm³.
Diagnosed with malignant cerebral malaria, accompanied by shock complications, Ms. T. was immediately treated with intensive resuscitation measures and anti-malarial drugs. Despite timely treatment, the mortality rate in cases of malignant cerebral malaria remains very high due to the rapid and dangerous progression of the disease.
After 16 days of treatment, the malaria parasites in the patient's blood were gone, the hemolysis stopped, and the patient was out of shock. However, Ms. T. still had to continue using a ventilator and receive treatment for other complications of organ failure. Doctors determined that although the patient had passed the dangerous stage, rehabilitation treatment and long-term monitoring were necessary.
According to Dr. Phan Van Manh, malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium spp., mainly in tropical countries, and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.
The disease usually begins with a fever with three stages: chills, high fever, and sweating. However, severe forms such as cerebral disease, shock, and organ failure have overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis difficult and having a very high mortality rate if not treated promptly.
Dr. Manh emphasized that for those who have symptoms of acute fever and have epidemiological factors coming from countries where malaria is prevalent (such as West African countries), especially if they have signs such as high fever, fatigue, and impaired consciousness, they should immediately go to the hospital for timely testing and diagnosis.
To prevent malaria and other infectious diseases when traveling to epidemic areas, doctors recommend that people take anti-malarial drugs when traveling to epidemic areas.
Use protective measures to avoid mosquito bites such as wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent and sleeping under mosquito nets. Practice good personal hygiene and insect repellent.
Malaria is easily treated when detected early, so it is important to seek medical attention promptly after traveling to endemic areas to prevent dangerous complications.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-71-dau-hieu-mac-benh-tu-mien-hiem-gap-d239458.html
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