Rheumatic disease diagnosis and treatment process

  Rheumatic diseases are a large group of diseases that have different causes but involve joints and their surrounding tissues. The common rheumatic diseases include autoimmune connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, dry syndrome, scleroderma, dermatomyositis/polymyositis, mixed connective tissue disease, leukoaraiosis, etc.); systemic vasculitis (polyarteritis major, arteritis nodosa, Wegener’s granulomatosis, microscopic vasculitis, giant cell arteritis/rheumatic polymyalgia, allergic purpura, Kawasaki disease, etc.);  Lesions of bones and joints (ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter’s syndrome, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, enteropathic arthritis, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc.). The etiology is often related to autoimmunity and genetics. Clinical manifestations often include fever, joint pain and swelling, rash, muscle pain, oral ulcers, Raynaud’s phenomenon, etc. The condition is often complex.  Therefore, in the process of clinical diagnosis, we must first understand the detailed medical history, which is the basis of rheumatic immune disease diagnosis and treatment, and we also need to pass some specialized tests of rheumatic diseases, such as clinical immunological examination, bone and joint imaging, etc., in order to make a clear diagnosis.  Commonly used specialized examination methods: 1. Clinical immunological examination includes anti-ds-DNA antibody, anti-ENA antibody peptide antibody profile, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anti-cardiolipin antibody, rheumatoid factor, anti-keratin antibody, rheumatoid and rheumatoid series, immune function monitoring, dynamic blood sedimentation, blood routine, etc.; 2. Imaging examination of bone and joint includes MRI, CT and X-ray examination of joint; 3. Genetic aspects: major histocompatibility antigen MCH (HLA) such as HLA-B27; 4. Pathological examinations: kidney biopsy (immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy), skin lupus band, labial gland biopsy, lymph node biopsy, etc.; 5. Other: bone density, corneal fluorescence staining, tear film rupture test, Schirmer’s test, parotid nuclear scan, etc. The treatment of rheumatic diseases is complicated. Early diagnosis and early acceptance of systematic and reasonable medical treatment will significantly improve the prognosis of the disease, maintain the function of its joints and organs, relieve the relevant symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients.