RHEUMATOLOGY
Department offers to every need and every disease by way of a seamless combination of services
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Outpatient consultations
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Education on Rheumatologic diseases and treatments
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In patient speciality care for patients with chronic rheumatic diseases.
Few Things to Know
What is Rheumatology?
Rheumatology is a speciality of internal medicine that deals with diagnosis and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders.
What does Rheumatologist deal with?
The Rheumatologist deals with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues , autoimmune diseases,vasculitis and heritable connective tissue disorders.
What is Rheumatism?
Pain, stiffness, swelling in and around joints or soft tissues together is called Rheumatism.
What are Auto Immune Diseases?
Auto Immune diseases are those in which there is an inappropriate immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body.
Are Rheumatic diseases curable?
Most of the rheumatic diseases are chronic progressive. Although many of them are not curable but surely they are controllable with proper medication and vigilant monitoring.
When to consult a Rheumatologist?
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Pain, swelling &/or stiffness in/around joints, muscles , bones
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Neck & Back pain associated with stiffness
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Systemic symptoms like prolonged fever,skin rashes , tiredness , recurrent oral ulcers , hair loss , photosensitivity.
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Tightening of skin over hands , legs, face , chest &/or abdomen.
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Dryness of eyes & mouth
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Fingers / Toes turning blue or white in cold conditions
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Weakness of muscles with difficulty climbing stairs, getting up from a lw position , combing hair etc.
The department conducts consultations on outpatients as well as inpatient basis.
The outpatient services were started in Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in September 2007 by Dr.Vaijayanti Lagu Joshi & Dr. Shreekant Wagh. The OPD turnover started with 30-40 patients per month and reached 250-300 patients per month now. Dr. Aniruddha Tembe & Dr. Pravin Patil have joined the department in 2011 & 2014
Dr. Smita Upadhye BHMS, has been working as Assistant doctor for rheumatology OPD’s and inpatient, since January 2011.
The department offers expertise in treating following conditions:
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Inflammatory arthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis Ankylosing Spondylitis Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies Psoriatic arthritis
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Osteoarthritis - OA Knees, cervical & Lumbar spondylosis
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Connective tissue disorders - Lupus, Scleroderma, Sjogren’s syndrome, overlap/mixed connective disorders inflammatory myositis
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Vasculitic disorders - ANCA vasculitis, Takayasu’s arteritis primary & secondary vasculitis
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Crystal deposition disorders - Gout, Pseudogout
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Juvenile idiopatic arthritis - Arthritis in children
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Arthropathies associated with infections, endocrine, haematological, metabolic conditions
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Soft tissue rheumatism - fibromyalgia, regional pain syndromes frozen shoulder, Tennis elbow
The rheumatologists play an important role in the diagnosis and management of these disorders. Some conditions are autoimmune related to abnormal immune responses to self tissues. The rheumatic diseases show peculiar presentations, multisystem involvement and chronicity. The need periodic monitoring and medications for long duration.
Other services offered besides consultation-
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Arthrocentesis
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Intra-articular injection
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Biologic infusions
Special Tests Offered:
Immunology panel :ANA, dsDNA, ANA blot ANCA, RF, AntiCCP, HCA B27 by PCR
Radiological tests: Xrays, Ultrasonography of Joints,CT Scan, MRI PET Scan, DEXA Scan(densitometry)
Research Activities:
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Inhouse study of 100 rheumatoid arthritis patients was done in January to September 2012 in collaboration with opthalmology department“Dry eye in Indian RA patient & association with disease activity” the poster presentation of this study was done in November 2013 at Kolkata -National Conference of Indian Rheumatology Association by Dr. Vaijayanti Lagu Joshi.
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Clinical Drug Trials are also part of clinical research and presently the Dr. Vaijayanti Lagu-Joshi is conducting multicentre drug trial of biologic on patients of rheumatoid arthritis.
Educational Activities:
The department conducts 2 patient education programmes annually
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’Lupus Day’ celebration for patients of lupus on 10th May
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’Arthritis Day’ celebration for patients of arthritis on 12th October.
2 experts from other specialities are invited and informative talks and patient get togethers are arranged for patients.
Rheumatology department aims at early detection and standard of care management of rheumatic Musculoskeletal diseases.
It also looks forward to create awareness and educate people about the diseases which are chronic, progressive, disabling that affect the quality of life and add to morbidity & mortality.
Contact Details:
For any queries, or details, please contact: 020 4915 3044 or 3043
For appointments please contact: 4015 1100
E mail: ssgroundopds@dmhospital.org