Rheumatology () is a branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and management of disorders whose common feature is inflammation in the bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs.
Many of these diseases are now known to be disorders of the immune system, and rheumatology has significant overlap with immunology, the branch of medicine that studies the immune system.
Rheumatologist
A
rheumatologist is a
physician who specializes in the field of medical sub-specialty called rheumatology. A rheumatologist holds a board certification after specialized training. In the United States, training in this field requires four years of undergraduate school, four years of medical school, and then three years of residency, followed by two or three years of additional Fellowship training. The requirements may vary in other countries. Rheumatologists are
who are qualified by additional postgraduate training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. Many rheumatologists also conduct research to determine the cause and better treatments for these disabling and sometimes fatal diseases. Treatment modalities are based on scientific research, currently, the practice of rheumatology is largely evidence-based.
Rheumatologists treat arthritis, autoimmune diseases, pain disorders affecting joints, and osteoporosis.
Pediatric rheumatologist:
Both specialties are important to address a child'
/ref> Raising awareness of this is important to attract more upcoming pediatricians into this rewarding area of healthcare.
Diseases
Diseases diagnosed or managed by rheumatologists include:
Degenerative arthropathies
Inflammatory arthropathies
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Spondyloarthropathies
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Ankylosing spondylitis
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Reactive arthritis (reactive arthropathy)
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Psoriatic arthropathy
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Enteropathic arthropathy
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Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
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Crystal arthropathies: gout, pseudogout
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Septic arthritis
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Raynaud's Disease
Systemic conditions and connective tissue diseases
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Lupus
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Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
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Sjögren's syndrome
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Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis)
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Polymyositis
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Dermatomyositis
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Polymyalgia rheumatica
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Mixed connective tissue disease
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Relapsing polychondritis
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Adult-onset Still's disease
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Sarcoidosis
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Fibromyalgia
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Myofascial pain syndrome
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Vasculitis
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Microscopic polyangiitis
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Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
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Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
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Polyarteritis nodosa
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Henoch–Schönlein purpura
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Serum sickness
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Giant cell arteritis, Temporal arteritis
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Takayasu's arteritis
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Behçet's disease
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Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome)
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Thromboangiitis obliterans
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Hereditary periodic fever syndromes
Soft tissue rheumatism
Local diseases and
affecting the joints and structures around the joints including tendons,
capsules,
Synovial bursa,
, muscles, nerve entrapment,
vascular lesions, and
Ganglion. For example:
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Low back pain
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Tennis elbow
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Golfer's elbow
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Olecranon bursitis
Diagnosis
Physical examination
Following are examples of methods of diagnosis able to be performed in a normal physical examination.
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Schober's test tests the flexion of the lower back.
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Multiple joint inspection
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Musculoskeletal Examination
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Screening Musculoskeletal Exam (SMSE) - a rapid assessment of structure and function
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General Musculoskeletal Exam (GMSE) - a comprehensive assessment of joint inflammation
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Regional Musculoskeletal Exam (RMSE) - focused assessments of structure, function and inflammation combined with special testing
Specialized
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Laboratory blood test (e.g. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-CCP (Anti-citrullinated protein antibody), ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody) )
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, , and other imaging methods of affected joints
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Cytopathology and chemical pathology of fluid aspirated from affected joints (e.g. to differentiate between septic arthritis and gout)
Treatment
Most rheumatic diseases are treated with
,
(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug),
(in serious cases),
(disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), monoclonal antibodies, such as
infliximab and
adalimumab, the
TNF inhibitor etanercept, and
methotrexate for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.
The biologic agent
rituximab (anti-B cell therapy) is now licensed for use in refractory rheumatoid arthritis.
is vital in the treatment of many rheumatological disorders. Occupational therapy can help patients find alternative ways for common movements that would otherwise be restricted by their disease. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis often need a long term, coordinated and a multidisciplinary team approach towards management of individual patients. Treatment is often tailored according to the individual needs of each patient which is also dependent on the response and the tolerability of medications.
Beginning in the 2000s, the incorporation of biologics (which include inhibitors of TNF-alpha, certain interleukins, and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway) into standards of care is one of the paramount developments in modern rheumatology.
Rheumasurgery
Rheumasurgery (or rheumatoid surgery) is a subfield of
orthopedics occupied with the surgical treatment of patients with rheumatic diseases.
[ "Norsk forening for revmakirurgi - Med hovedbase på Diakonhjemmet" LB Johannessen Tidsskr Nor Lægeforen 2004; 124:3110 Nr. 23 – 2. December 2004] The purpose of the interventions is to limit disease activity, soothe pain and improve function.
[ Rheumakirurgi . Arne Skredderstuen November 2000]
Rheumasurgical interventions can be divided in two groups. The one is early Synovectomy, that is the removal of the inflamed synovia in order to prevent spreading and stop destruction. The other group is the so-called corrective intervention, i.e. an intervention done after destruction has taken place.[Den sykehusmessige revmatikeromsorgen i Norge (Kåss and Stene 1970), page 24.] Among the corrective interventions are joint replacements, removal of loose bone or cartilage fragments, and a variety of interventions aimed at repositioning and/or stabilizing joints,[ "Surgery for Rheumatic Diseases" Cedars Sinai (http://www.cedars-sinai.edu)] such as arthrodesis.
Research directions
Recently, a large body of scientific research deals with the background of autoimmune disease, the cause of many rheumatic disorders. Also, the field of
osteoimmunology has emerged to further examine the interactions between the immune system, joints, and bones. Epidemiological studies and medication trials are also being conducted. The Rheumatology Research Foundation is the largest private funding source of rheumatology research and training in the United States.
History
Rheumasurgery emerged in the cooperation of rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons in
Heinola, Finland, during the 1950s.
[Revmatisme: Gamle plager - ny viten (Munthe and Larsen 1987), page 49.]
In 1970 a Norwegian investigation estimated that at least 50% of patients with rheumatic symptoms needed rheumasurgery as an integrated part of their treatment.[Den sykehusmessige revmatikeromsorgen i Norge (Kåss and Stene 1970), pages 24-25.]
The European Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgical Society (ERASS) was founded in 1979.[Rydholm, U " Reumakirurgiens uppgång, stabilisering og nedgång ur ett sydsvenskt perspektiv" 2013]
Around the turn of the 21st century, focus for treatment of patients with rheumatic disease shifted, and pharmacological treatment became dominant, while surgical interventions became rarer.[ Trender i revmakirurgisk behandling av pasienter med leddgikt og andre kronisk inflammatoriske leddsykdommer , Norsk Rheumabulletin 4/2012, pages 16-17.]
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