The Section of Rheumatology treats a wide range of rheumatic diseases, including:
- Cystic fibrosis arthropathy: The pain and swelling of the joints caused by cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive tract.
- Dermatomyositis: Connective-tissue disease characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.
- Fever of unknown origin: Elevated temperature with no known cause
- Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: A chronic disease resulting in joint pain and inflammation. Usually occurring before age 16, it may result in joint damage.
- Kawasaki disease: A rare condition in children that involves inflammation of the blood vessels.
- Lupus: A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs.
- Lyme disease: An inflammatory disease characterized by a skin rash, joint inflammation, and flu-like symptoms, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by the bite of a deer tick.
- Mixed connective tissue disease: An autoimmune disorder in which patients exhibit symptoms of diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis.
- Morphea scleroderma: A diffuse connective tissue disease characterized by changes in the skin, blood vessels, skeletal muscles, and internal organs.
- Post-strep reactive arthritis: Inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, swelling, and limited movement, sometimes a rare complication of an untreated strep infection.
- Raynaud's phenomenon: Exposure to the cold or strong emotions trigger blood vessel spasms that result in interruption of blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Raynaud's phenomenon can occur without any other associated symptoms or disease.
- Spondyloarthropathy: Term used to describe a number of chronic joint diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis. This disease affects joints, ligaments, and tendons and frequently the sacroiliac joint.
- Vasculitis: Caused when the immune system attacks the blood vessels, resulting in inflammation of these vessels. It can be caused by an allergic reaction.
Tests
We perform a variety of tests, including:
- Physical exam
- Electromyography (EMG)
- X-rays