undifferentiated connective tissue disease
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undifferentiated connective tissue disease
An early stage of a connective tissue disease, in which the predominant organ of involvement or clinical form is not yet manifest. Cf Overlap syndrome, Palindromic rheumatism.undifferentiated connective tissue disease
,UCTD
A connective tissue disease that does not fully meet the criteria for any of the well-defined rheumatological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, or systemic lupus erythematosus. Signs and symptoms of connective tissue disease must be present for several years. These may include polyarticular arthritis, Raynaud's phenomenon, pleuritis, or pericarditis, among others. The patient with UCTD will also have a positive antinuclear antibody test as well as other autoantibodies. Diagnostic difficulties in UCTD may be found in people who have evidence of mixed connective tissue disease or overlap syndrome.