Related Experiment Videos
Mixed connective tissue disease presenting as a left sided pleural effusion
1Department of Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
|October 1, 1992
Summary
This study reports a rare case of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) presenting in an elderly male. The patient, aged 79, experienced a left-sided pleural effusion as the initial symptom.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a rare autoimmune disorder with diverse clinical manifestations.
- MCTD typically affects women of reproductive age (13-50 years).
- Pleural effusion is an uncommon presenting feature of MCTD.
Observation:
- A 79-year-old male presented with a left-sided pleural effusion.
- This presentation is atypical given the usual demographic and initial symptoms of MCTD.
- The patient's advanced age and sex are unusual for MCTD diagnosis.
Findings:
- The case highlights a rare late-onset presentation of MCTD.
- Pleural effusion can be an initial indicator of MCTD, even in elderly males.
- This case expands the known clinical spectrum of MCTD presentation.
Implications:
- Physicians should consider MCTD in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion, regardless of patient demographics.
- Early recognition of atypical MCTD presentations can lead to timely diagnosis and management.
- Further research into late-onset and male-predominant MCTD cases is warranted.