Rheumatology () is a branch of medicine devoted to the diagnosis and management of disorders of which the common feature is inflammation in the bones, muscles, joints, and internal organs. Rheumatology covers more than 100 different complex diseases, collectively known as rheumatic diseases, such as arthritis, lupus, and Sjögren's syndrome. Doctors who have undergone formal training in rheumatology are called rheumatologists.
Because many of these diseases are now known to be disorders of the immune system, 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 internists 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. There are more than 200 types of these diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, and tendinitis. Some of these are very serious diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. They treat soft tissue problems related to the musculoskeletal system and sports-related soft tissue disorders.
Pediatric rheumatologist: A pediatric rheumatologist is a pediatrician who specializes in the treatment of children with rheumatic disease.Australian Rheumatology Association. (2024). What is a Paediatric Rheumatologist? Accessed 24 March 2024 from https://rheumatology.org.au/For-Patients/Your-Rheumatology-Healthcare-Team/What-is-a-Paediatric-Rheumatologist Both specialties are important to address a child's milestone development and disease treatment throughout childhood. However, recognition of this sub-specialty has been slow, which has resulted in a global shortage of pediatric rheumatologists, and as a consequence, the demand for healthcare support far exceeds current service capacities.Butler, S., Sculley, D., Santos, D. et al. Paediatric Rheumatology Fails to Meet Current Benchmarks, a Call for Health Equity for Children Living with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Using Digital Health Technologies. Curr Rheumatol Rep (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-024-01145-w 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 Osteoarthritis
Inflammatory arthropathies Rheumatoid arthritis Spondyloarthropathies Ankylosing spondylitis Reactive arthritis (reactive arthropathy) Psoriatic arthropathy Enteropathic arthropathy Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) Crystal arthropathies: gout, pseudogout Septic arthritis Raynaud's Disease
Systemic conditions and connective tissue diseases
Lupus Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Sjögren's syndrome Scleroderma (systemic sclerosis) Polymyositis Dermatomyositis Polymyalgia rheumatica Mixed connective tissue disease Relapsing polychondritis Adult-onset Still's disease Sarcoidosis Fibromyalgia Myofascial pain syndrome Vasculitis Microscopic polyangiitis Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis Granulomatosis with polyangiitis Polyarteritis nodosa Henoch–Schönlein purpura Serum sickness Giant cell arteritis, Temporal arteritis Takayasu's arteritis Behçet's disease Kawasaki disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome) Thromboangiitis obliterans Hereditary periodic fever syndromes
Soft tissue rheumatism Local diseases and lesions affecting the joints and structures around the joints including tendons, ligaments capsules, bursae, stress fractures, muscles, nerve entrapment, vascular lesions, and ganglia. For example: Low back pain Tennis elbow Golfer's elbow Olecranon bursitis
Diagnosis
Physical examination Following are examples of methods of diagnosis able to be performed in a normal physical examination. Schober's test tests the flexion of the lower back. Multiple joint inspection Musculoskeletal Examination Screening Musculoskeletal Exam (SMSE) - a rapid assessment of structure and function General Musculoskeletal Exam (GMSE) - a comprehensive assessment of joint inflammation Regional Musculoskeletal Exam (RMSE) - focused assessments of structure, function and inflammation combined with special testing
Specialized Laboratory tests (e.g. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Rheumatoid Factor, Anti-CCP (Anti-citrullinated protein antibody), ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibody) ) X-rays, Ultrasounds, and other imaging methods of affected joints 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 analgesics, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), steroids (in serious cases), DMARDs (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. Physiotherapy 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 biopharmaceuticals (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 synovectomies, 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.
References
External links Association des medecins rhumatologues du Quebec American College of Rheumatology European League Against Rheumatism Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America, Inc. British Society for Rheumatology Canadian Rheumatology Association Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (archived 3 March 2009) German Society for Rheumatology