Alphabet: M

Myositis is a type of autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system (which is supposed to fight off infection) becomes confused and starts attacking normal muscle causing damage and inflammation (myo = muscle, itis = inflammation). While muscle inflammation is the primary characteristic of this form of arthritis, myositis can also affect a number of organs such as

First described in 1972, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune disease that is considered to be an “overlap” of different inflammatory forms of autoimmune connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome and inflammatory myositis (dermatomyositis and polymyositis). It can also occur with Sjogren’s syndrome. People with MCTD experience symptoms of a few of these diseases.