[Rheumatology] Introduction

This field specialises in diseases of the connective tissue.
There is significant overlap with immunology, orthopaedics, and dermatology.

 

Etymology

Ancient Greek ῥεῦμα (rheûma) = flowing current
Ancient Greek ῥευματισμός (rheumatismós) = humour, discharge, rheum

Ancient Greek λογία (logia) = study

Rheumatology = the study of flowing currents / humours.

The humours are essentially an old medical concept of human essences, which remain in a careful state of balance in healthy humans. The name "rheumatology" is not completely inappropriate today, because many rheumatological diseases actually do involve elevated "essences" which include: antibodies, compliment proteins, cytokines, inflammatory cells, uric acid (in gout) and CPPD (in pseudogout). For the same reason, the capability of the immune system to produce antibodies and compliment proteins is often called "humoral immunity".

 

History taking

 

Physical examination

 

Common presentations

• Arthritis
• Arthralgia
• Fatigue

 

Connective tissue diseases

Immune system diseases 

Musculoskeletal diseases

 

Diseases:

• Rheumatoid arthritis 
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis 
• Infectious arthritis
• Osteoarthritis 
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriatic arthritis 
• Gout
• CPPD crystal deposition disease
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus 
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Systemic vasculitis
• Anti-phospholipid syndrome 
• Adult-onset Still's disease
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Systemic sclerosis  
• Dermatomyositis
• Polymyositis
• Sarcoidosis
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
• Fibromyalgia