Rheumatology

Rheumatology is the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and management of rheumatic inflammatory conditions and other disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. Rheumatism broadly refers to a spectrum of conditions characterized by pain, reduced mobility, swelling, and deformity in the locomotor system, including muscles, bones, joints, and ligaments.

This medical specialty encompasses approximately 200 distinct disorders, each presenting with diverse symptoms depending on the specific disease. Rheumatic diseases not only affect joints but can also involve visceral organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys, and may impact the skin and eyes.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Degenerative Diseases: Osteoarthritis
• Connective Tissue Diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren's Syndrome, Scleroderma, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Dermatomyositis, Polymyositis, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, Anti-phospholipid Syndrome
• Spondyloarthropathies: Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathies
• Other Conditions:
  • Behçet's Disease
  • Familial Mediterranean Fever
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Acute Rheumatic Fever
  • Crystal Arthritis: Gout, Pseudo-gout (Chondrocalcinosis)
  • Metabolic Diseases: Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, Paget's Disease
  • Vascular Inflammations: Takayasu Arteritis, Polyarteritis Nodosa, Microscopic Polyangitis, Churg Strauss, Wegener's Granulomatosis, Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis, Other Systemic Vasculitis
• Amyloidosis
• Infectious Arthritis
• Rheumatic Signs Manifested in Systemic Diseases

This overview encapsulates the complex and varied nature of rheumatic diseases, highlighting the need for specialized knowledge and treatment strategies to manage these challenging conditions effectively.