Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy is specialized in diseases of arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis and systemic autoimmune disease, such as Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Sjogren syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), hypersensitivity disorders, etc. Because the initial presentations of these diseases are variable and nonspecific, patients always search for treatment in other sub-specialties. However, refractory disease activity and progressive systemic presentations will make they present to our clinic for further management. The initial treatment of these autoimmune diseases depends on the combinations of immunosuppressive drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and target therapies. Due to risk of superimposed infection, closely monitoring is indicated during hospitalization.
Patients with following presentations should be considered to receive evaluation in our clinics:
- Chronic arthritis with local painful swelling, heat and erythematous change
- Fever of unknown causes
- Lymphadenopathies of unknown causes
- Generalized muscle pain, swelling or weakness
- Constitutional symptoms with skin lesions
- Pallor and cyanotic change of digits when in cold condition