A connective tissue disease diagnosis is not a death sentence in and of itself, though some conditions can become life-threatening. Many people suffer from these conditions for years, able to live a full life with a wide range of activities. These people may, at some point in the future, see an increase in symptoms and a worsening of their disease. Other people may live to a ripe old age, never suffering serious complications of their conditions. As connective tissue diseases may exist and linger for many years, it may be difficult for a person to recognize that a definite problem exists.
Some people say the symptoms are much like having a bad case of the flu.
And, as with other autoimmune conditions, the immune system does not usually work properly, causing a person to suffer from more than the usual infections and things. As these symptoms are so common in a wide range of health problems, it is absolutely necessary for a person to seek competent health care. Often, a rheumatologist, the leading researchers and specialists in this field, should make a correct diagnosis. And, though it is easy for someone to be diagnosed simply as being depressed, depression may, and often does, accompany connective tissue diseases and autoimmune conditions, just as depression may well result from many other chronic health problems. The causes of Undifferentiated CTD are unknown, especially as it is not one of the more common diseases.