Rheumatology is a subspecialty of internal medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases relating to joints and soft tissues, autoimmune disease, vasculitis, and hereditary connective tissue disease. Most of the rheumatic diseases arise from a dysregulated immune system. When our immune system is impaired, it will mistake our normal tissues as foreign intruders. As a result, it will attack its own body, causing inflammation of the joints, muscles, skin and blood vessels. Aches and pains are some common symptoms of rheumatic diseases, but in more serious circumstances, it can cause major organ damage.

Rheumatic diseases can be divided into two main categories:

1. Inflammatory arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, and Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Gout
2. Systemic diseases that affect connective tissue: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren's Syndrome, Scleroderma, Dermatomyositis, Vasculitis

• Chronic joint pain
• Prolonged joint swelling
• Joint stiffness with limited range of motion
• Joint deformities and impaired joint function
• Muscle pain and muscle weakness
• Increased warmth or fever
• Skin rash

Virtus Medical Rheumatology Centre provides one-stop diagnostic, therapeutic and nursing services. With a total area of over 5000 square feet, the centre is well-equipped with medical laboratory, imaging and diagnostic centre and ambulatory care centre, providing both investigations and treatments at the same location, thereby a smooth and convenient treatment process and quality care.

Diagnosis and Testing

Rheumatologist will first assess the clinical history and carry out physical exam. Specific appropriate blood tests, X-rays, musculoskeletal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations then be performed to delineate and confirm the diagnosis.

Medication Treatment

Medication treatment for rheumatic diseases mainly includes oral drugs, intra-articular steroid injections, and biologics. Traditional oral drugs, including anti-rheumatic drugs and steroids, are mainly effective in treating the symptoms of rheumatic diseases, alleviating pain and slowing down disease progression. Biologics can serve as another option for patients with moderate or more severe conditions. Most biologics are given either as subcutaneous injection or intravenous injection. Biologics can help neutralize the pro-inflammatory cytokine, which is pivotal in controlling active inflammation and disease-related tissue damage. The introduction of the new small molecules oral medication has brought good news to patients who are unwilling and unsuitable to receive injections. Small molecules, with similar effects to biologics, have yielded considerable attention in recent years and have gained increasing popularity among some patients with rheumatic diseases.

Nursing Services

Our centre provides drug injections and wound care services to patients who are in need, ensuring the most appropriate and economical treatment program are offered.

Virtus Rheumatology specialists

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