title: Pediatric Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.
abstract: Pediatric-onset mixed connective tissue disease is among the rare disease entities in pediatric rheumatology and includes features of arthritis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. Accurate recognition and diagnosis of the disease is paramount to prevent long-term morbidity. Advances in the genetic and immunologic understanding of the factors involved in the etiopathogenesis provide an opportunity for improvements in prognostication and targeted therapy. The development of a multinational cohort of patients with mixed connective tissue disease would be invaluable to provide more updated data regarding the clinical presentation, to develop a standardized treatment approach, disease activity and outcome tools, and to provide data on long-term outcomes and comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Road East, PO Box 5010, N6A5W9, London, Ontario, Canada. roberta.berard@lhsc.on.ca.|Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. roberta.berard@lhsc.on.ca.
authors.forename: Roberta A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Berard
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada.|Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ronald M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Laxer
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents
keywords: Etiopathogenesis; Mixed connective tissue disease; Outcome; Pediatric; Treatment