What is Rheumatology?
Rheumatology is a medical sub-specialty which deals with bone, joint and connective tissue disorders. Most of these disorders are autoimmune in nature i.e., an individual’s immune system affects his/her own tissues and organs.
Rheumatologists are physicians managing these disorders with medicines, injections and exercises.
![department-of-rheumatology](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/images/newsletters/2023/february/department-of-rheumatology.jpg)
Common Diseases Treated
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis/spondyloarthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Gout
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
Less Common Diseases Treated
- SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus/lupus)
- Systemic sclerosis/mixed connective tissue disease
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Vasculitis (e.g., Takayasu’s arteritis, ANCA vasculitis, etc.)
- Sarcoidosis
When to Visit a Rheumatologist?
- Pain and/or early morning stiffness in multiple joints (rheumatoid arthritis)
- Low back pain and early morning stiffness (spondyloarthritis)
- Any non-traumatic bone or joint pain
- High uric acid with joint pain (gout)
- Fracture after a trivial or minor fall (fracture due to osteoporosis)
- Young females with fever, joint pains, oral ulcers and excessive hair loss (lupus/SLE)
- Non-healing ulcer in legs (vasculitis)
- Recurrent red eye or eye inflammation
- Dry mouth and dry eyes (Sjogren’s syndrome)
- Color change (white/blue) in fingers on cold exposure (Raynaud’s phenomenon)
- Recurrent miscarriages/recurrent blood clots (anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome)
Common Investigations
- Hemogram with ESR
- C-reactive protein
- Serum uric acid
- Rheumatoid factor & anti-CCP
- Anti-nuclear antibody
- Anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody
- HLA-B27/B51
- Anti-phospholipid antibodies
- 25-OH vitamin D levels, calcium, phosphorus
- X-ray/ultrasound/MRI/DXA SCAN
“One-stop care for rheumatic diseases at Kauvery Hospital.”
“As we have a qualified rheumatologist, physician assistant, physiotherapy, laboratory investigations, imaging (x-ray, MRI), pharmacy, intra-articular injections, day-care biologic infusions and in-patient care for the management of ill patient.”
![Dr-S-Sham2022-05-06-09:15:47am](https://www.kauveryhospital.com/doctorimage/recent/Dr-S-Sham2022-05-06-09:15:47am.jpg)
Dr. S. Sham
Consultant – Rheumatologist
Kauvery Hospital Chennai