Rheumatology

Rheumatology focuses on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases affecting joints and connective tissues.

• Adult-onset Still's Disease — systemic autoinflammatory disorder, quotidian fever, salmon-colored rash, arthritis, IL-18 elevation
• Ankylosing Spondylitis — axial spondyloarthritis, HLA-B27, TNF inhibitors
  • Deep Dives: HLA-B27 Explained · Biologics Guide · NSAID Strategy · Exercise & PT Protocol · Morning Stiffness Management · AS & IBD Overlap · Starch-Free Diet & Ebringer · Pregnancy & AS
• Antiphospholipid Syndrome — autoimmune thrombophilia, recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy loss, anticardiolipin/anti-β2GP1 antibodies, anticoagulation
• Arthritis — osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs, biologics
• Behçet's Disease — multisystem vasculitis, recurrent oral/genital ulcers, uveitis, HLA-B51 association
• Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD, Pseudogout) — calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis, chondrocalcinosis, acute CPP crystal arthritis, colchicine
• Cryoglobulinemia — cold-precipitating immunoglobulins, purpura, peripheral neuropathy, hepatitis C association
• Dermatomyositis — inflammatory myopathy, heliotrope rash, Gottron's papules, proximal muscle weakness, cancer association
• Drug-Induced Lupus — lupus-like syndrome from hydralazine, procainamide, minocycline, anti-TNF biologics; antihistone antibodies; resolves on drug cessation
• EGPA (Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis) — Churg-Strauss syndrome, asthma, eosinophilia, ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome — hereditary connective-tissue disorders, joint hypermobility, POTS/MCAS triad
  • Hypermobile EDS & 2017 Criteria
  • POTS, MCAS & the EDS Triad
  • Classical & Vascular EDS
  • Pain Management in hEDS
  • Physical Therapy & Joint Protection
  • GI Involvement in EDS
  • Pregnancy & EDS
  • Pediatric EDS & Transition of Care
• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) — autoinflammatory periodic fever syndrome, MEFV gene mutations, serositis, colchicine prophylaxis
• Fibromyalgia — central sensitization, ACR 2016 criteria, pregabalin/duloxetine/milnacipran, low-dose naltrexone, comorbid ME/CFS/POTS
• Giant Cell Arteritis (Temporal Arteritis) — large-vessel vasculitis in adults >50, temporal headache, risk of blindness, high-dose corticosteroids, tocilizumab
• Gout — uric acid crystals, colchicine, allopurinol, dietary triggers
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA) — Wegener's granulomatosis, upper/lower respiratory tract and kidney involvement, PR3-ANCA, cyclophosphamide/rituximab
• IgG4-Related Disease — fibro-inflammatory disorder, elevated serum IgG4, multi-organ involvement, rituximab-responsive
• Inclusion Body Myositis — most common inflammatory myopathy over age 50, distal finger flexor and quadriceps weakness, IBM-specific autoantibodies, no effective immunosuppression
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) — 7 ILAR subtypes, oligoarticular/systemic/polyarticular/ERA, asymptomatic uveitis, methotrexate, biologics, macrophage activation syndrome
• Kawasaki Disease — acute febrile vasculitis of medium vessels, most common acquired heart disease in children, coronary artery aneurysms, IVIG + aspirin, incomplete KD in infants
• Lupus — systemic lupus erythematosus, ANA, multi-organ involvement
  • ANA, dsDNA & Lupus Autoantibodies
  • ACR/EULAR 2019 Classification Criteria
  • Lupus Nephritis & Kidney Involvement
  • Neuropsychiatric Lupus
  • Hydroxychloroquine & Antimalarials
  • Biologics: Belimumab, Anifrolumab, Rituximab
  • Lupus & Pregnancy
  • Cutaneous Lupus & Photoprotection
  • Lupus & Sjögren's Overlap
• Marfan Syndrome — FBN1 gene mutation, tall stature, aortic root dilation, ectopia lentis, beta-blockers, aortic surveillance
• Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) — ANCA-associated small-vessel vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, pulmonary hemorrhage, MPO-ANCA
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) — overlap syndrome of SLE/scleroderma/myositis, high-titer anti-U1-RNP antibodies, Raynaud's phenomenon
• Osteoarthritis — whole-joint disease, exercise-first treatment, weight loss, joint replacement
• Osteoporosis — DEXA scanning, bisphosphonates, fracture risk assessment
  • DEXA Scan: T-score & Z-score
  • FRAX Risk Assessment & Thresholds
  • Bisphosphonates
  • Denosumab, Romosozumab & Teriparatide
  • Calcium, Vitamin D & Protein
  • Exercise for Bone Density
  • Postmenopausal Osteoporosis & HT
  • Secondary Osteoporosis Causes
  • Fracture Prevention & Fall Risk
• Palindromic Rheumatism — episodic self-resolving joint attacks, may evolve to rheumatoid arthritis, RF/anti-CCP positive subset
• Polyarteritis Nodosa — medium-vessel necrotizing vasculitis, mononeuritis multiplex, renal artery involvement, hepatitis B association
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica — proximal muscle stiffness, ESR elevation, prednisone-responsive, giant cell arteritis overlap
• Polymyositis — proximal inflammatory myopathy, elevated CK, myositis-specific antibodies, corticosteroids and steroid-sparing agents
• Psoriatic Arthritis — seronegative spondyloarthropathy, dactylitis, enthesitis, IL-17/IL-23 pathway, 5 subtypes
• Raynaud's Disease — vasospasm, digital ischemia, calcium channel blockers
• Reactive Arthritis — formerly Reiter's syndrome, HLA-B27, post-infectious arthritis (Chlamydia, Salmonella, Shigella), classic triad
• Relapsing Polychondritis — episodic cartilage inflammation, auricular chondritis, saddle-nose deformity, tracheobronchomalacia risk
• Septic Arthritis — bacterial joint infection, S. aureus/gonococcal, synovial WBC >50,000, same-day joint aspiration and drainage, cartilage emergency
• Rheumatoid Arthritis — anti-CCP antibodies, methotrexate, biologics, treat-to-target
• Sjögren's Syndrome — sicca symptoms, autoimmune exocrinopathy, lymphoma risk
• Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) — autoimmune fibrosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, skin thickening, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Takayasu Arteritis — large-vessel granulomatous vasculitis in young women, aorta and major branches, pulseless disease, corticosteroids and biologics
• Vasculitis — inflammatory blood vessel disease, ANCA-associated (GPA, MPA, EGPA), large/medium/small vessel classification

Table of Contents

1. Rheumatology
2. Research Papers
3. Connections
4. Featured Videos

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Key Research Papers

Foundational and recent peer-reviewed publications across rheumatology — rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, spondyloarthritis, scleroderma, vasculitis, gout, osteoporosis, and connective tissue disease. Each citation links to the full text via DOI.

1. Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification Criteria: An ACR/EULAR Collaborative Initiative. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2010;62(9):2569–2581.
2. Smolen JS, Landewé RBM, Bergstra SA, et al. EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis with Synthetic and Biological Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs: 2022 Update. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2023;82(1):3–18.
3. Petri M, Orbai AM, Alarcón GS, et al. Derivation and Validation of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLICC). Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2012;64(8):2677–2686.
4. Aringer M, Costenbader K, Daikh D, et al. 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2019;78(9):1151–1159.
5. Sieper J, Rudwaleit M, Baraliakos X, et al. The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) Handbook: A Guide to Assess Spondyloarthritis. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2009;68(Suppl 2):ii1–ii44.
6. Ward MM, Deodhar A, Akl EA, et al. American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network 2015 Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology. 2016;68(2):282–298.
7. Cosman F, de Beur SJ, LeBoff MS, et al. Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis (NOF). Osteoporosis International. 2014;25(10):2359–2381.
8. Khanna D, Khanna PP, Fitzgerald JD, et al. 2012 American College of Rheumatology Guidelines for Management of Gout. Part 2: Therapy and Antiinflammatory Prophylaxis of Acute Gouty Arthritis. Arthritis Care & Research. 2012;64(10):1447–1461.
9. van den Hoogen F, Khanna D, Fransen J, et al. 2013 Classification Criteria for Systemic Sclerosis: An ACR/EULAR Collaborative Initiative. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2013;65(11):2737–2747.
10. Jennette JC, Falk RJ, Bacon PA, et al. 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2013;65(1):1–11.
11. Navarro-Sarabia F, Ariza-Ariza R, Hernández-Cruz B, Villanueva I. Adalimumab for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2005;(3):CD005113.
12. Cohen SB, Emery P, Greenwald MW, et al. Rituximab for Rheumatoid Arthritis Refractory to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy: Results of a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Trial Evaluating Primary Efficacy and Safety at Twenty-Four Weeks (REFLEX). Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2006;54(9):2793–2806.
13. Maini R, St Clair EW, Breedveld F, et al. Infliximab (Chimeric Anti-Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha Monoclonal Antibody) versus Placebo in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Receiving Concomitant Methotrexate: A Randomised Phase III Trial (ATTRACT). Lancet. 1999;354(9194):1932–1939.
14. Navarra SV, Guzmán RM, Gallacher AE, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Belimumab in Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Trial (BLISS-52). Lancet. 2011;377(9767):721–731.
15. Tashkin DP, Elashoff R, Clements PJ, et al. Cyclophosphamide versus Placebo in Scleroderma Lung Disease (Scleroderma Lung Study). New England Journal of Medicine. 2006;354(25):2655–2666.
16. Vitali C, Bombardieri S, Jonsson R, et al. Classification Criteria for Sjögren's Syndrome: A Revised Version of the European Criteria Proposed by the American-European Consensus Group. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2002;61(6):554–558.

Live PubMed Searches

Each link opens a live PubMed query so results stay current as new papers are indexed.

1. PubMed: rheumatoid arthritis review
2. PubMed: systemic lupus erythematosus review
3. PubMed: osteoporosis review
4. PubMed: gout management
5. PubMed: ankylosing spondylitis review
6. PubMed: sjogren syndrome review
7. PubMed: raynaud phenomenon review
8. PubMed: osteoarthritis review
9. PubMed: autoimmune disease genetics
10. PubMed: DMARD biologic therapy
11. PubMed: HLA-B27 spondyloarthritis
12. PubMed: TNF inhibitor rheumatology

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Connections

• All Conditions
• Arthritis
• Lupus
• Osteoporosis
• Gout
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Raynaud's Disease
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Vasculitis
• Reactive Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Turmeric

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Featured Videos

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