Rheumatology

Rheumatology in modern terms is called Clinical Immunology. It is now acknowledged that the under lying cause for a disease like rheumatism is a dysregulation of the normal functioning of the immune system. However for the sake of continuity and ease of identification among patients the term rheumatology is still retained and this branch is often referred to as Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology.

Therefore diseases resulting from the dysregulation (meaning altered regulation) of the normal functioning of the immune system, ( which often results in the immune system – which is meant to protect the body – turning on its own body and hence causing disease of the immune system ) can affect virtually any organ of the body, however the systems most commonly involved are
Joints : Disease of joints is called ARTHRITIS (which in turn are of many varieties)
Blood Vessels : Diseases of blood vessels are called VASCULITIS (and since blood vessels are ubiquitous in the body, any organ like the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, gut, skin joint, muscle, etc can be affected)
Muscles : Disease affecting muscles is called MYOSITIS
Skin : Disease affecting the skin is called Systemic SCLEROSIS
Eyes : Disease affecting part of the eyes is called UVEITIS
Kidney : Disease of the kidney is collectively called NEPHRITIS
Soft Tissue Rheumatism : A group of conditions which are not included in the above but which can cause tremendous pain over the entire body called FIBROMYALGIA which is fairly commonly.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome : A rarer condition in our country, the disorder causes pain at the insertion of muscles, tendons called ENTHESOPATHY or TENDINITIS respectively
Tenosynovitis : Inflammation around tendons and ligaments called TENOSYNOVITIS which can manifest as CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME or TRIGGER FINGERS
SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) : A chronic generalized inflammatory condition which is characterized by fever and affecting all or any combination of organs mentioned above. This condition is diagnosed by the presence of typical antibodies in the blood called ANA antibodies.