Introduction: Connective tissue diseases encompass a group of systemic autoimmune pathologies such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory myopathies, systemic scleroderma, Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome and mixed connectivites. This study focused on six autoimmune and systemic diseases (AISDs): rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome, anti-synthetase syndrome, SHARP syndrome and scleroderma, excluding organ-specific autoimmune diseases. These conditions are clinically heterogeneous, with varied manifestations depending on the patient.

Material and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2023 in the internal medicine department of the Nianankoro Fomba regional hospital in Segou, Mali. All consenting inpatients and outpatients meeting diagnostic criteria for connectivitis (ACR, Kasukawa for SHARP) were included. Clinical data (age, sex, origin, socioeconomic level, diagnostic delay, joint and organ signs, comorbidities) and paraclinical data (autoantibodies, biological and imaging tests) were collected from medical records. Analysis was performed with Epi Info 7.

Results: Among 1,920 patients seen during the study period, 28 were diagnosed with MAIS, representing a hospital prevalence of 0.15%. The mean age was 47.54 ± 18.73 years (extremes: 18-87 years), with a majority of women (64.29%, sex ratio = 0.56). The mean time to consultation was 50.52 ± 33.84 months. Articular manifestations were the most frequent (96%), followed by mucocutaneous involvement (42.86%).

Discussion: MAIS remains rare and poorly recognized in sub-Saharan Africa, due to reliance on traditional practitioners and misdiagnosis. Our results confirm a low prevalence, comparable to other African countries. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common, affecting mostly middle-aged women.

Conclusion: MAIS represent a growing public health challenge in Black Africa. Early detection and prompt management are crucial to improve patient prognosis.