An overview of the field of rheumatology, including the study of rheumatic diseases, their classification, and importance in the context of healthcare.
Introduction to Rheumatology
Key concepts, common diseases, diagnostic approach, and management basics
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | Medical specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and systemic autoimmune diseases. |
| Scope | • Joint, tendon, ligament, muscle, bone, and cartilage disorders • Systemic connective‑tissue diseases (e.g., lupus, vasculitis) • Metabolic bone diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, gout) • Pediatric rheumatic conditions (juvenile idiopathic arthritis). |
| Goal | Preserve function, relieve pain, prevent organ damage, and improve quality of life. |
| Category | Representative Disorders | Hallmark Features |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammatory Arthritis | • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) • Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) |
• Synovitis, joint swelling, morning stiffness >30 min (RA) • Enthesitis, axial involvement (AS) |
| Crystal‑Induced Arthropathies | • Gout • Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) |
• Sudden mono‑articular pain, tophi (gout) • Chondrocalcinosis on imaging (CPPD) |
| Systemic Autoimmune Connective‑Tissue Diseases | • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) • Systemic sclerosis (SSc) • Dermatomyositis |
• Multi‑organ involvement, autoantibodies (ANA, anti‑dsDNA, anti‑Scl‑70) |
| Vasculitides | • Giant‑cell arteritis (GCA) • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) |
• Vessel inflammation → ischemic symptoms, elevated ESR/CRP |
| Metabolic Bone Disease | • Osteoporosis • Osteomalacia |
• Low bone mineral density, fragility fractures |
| Pediatric Rheumatology | • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) • Kawasaki disease |
• Disease onset < 16 yr, growth‑related issues |
| Step | What to Ask / Examine |
|---|---|
| Symptom chronology | Onset, duration, pattern (continuous vs. episodic) |
| Pain characteristics | Location, severity, morning stiffness, relief factors |
| Systemic clues | Fever, rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, dry eyes/mouth |
| Family & occupational history | Genetic predisposition, repetitive strain |
| Functional impact | ADL limitation, work ability |
| Physical exam | Joint count (swollen/tender), range of motion, enthesitis, skin lesions, |