Introduction The inflammatory muscle diseases polymyositis and dermatomyositis are characterised by an inflammation of striated muscle. As with other conditions in the spectrum of connective tissue disease, they can occur…
The basics Scleroderma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by progressive fibrosis, widespread vascular disease and immunological abnormalities. It is divided into limited cutaneous disease (formerly known as CREST syndrome) and…
The commonest vasculitides are giant cell arteritis and Kawasaki disease. Despite their rarity, the medium and small vessel vasculitides are important diagnoses to be familiar with: as multi-system diseases they…
Introduction The vasculitides are a heterogenous group of disorders caused by vascular inflammation. As the vessel wall dies, ischaemia and infarction occur distal to the area of necrosis. The easiest…
Bone remodelling Bone is generated and remodelled throughout life in cycles of tightly coupled osteoclastic and osteoblastic acivity. The osteoclast is a giant multinucleated cell derived from the monocyte/macrophage population…
Introduction The World Health Organisation has defined osteoporosis as a ‘systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass and microar-chitectural deterioration of bone tissue with a consequent increase in bone…
Introduction Fibromyalgia is a non-inflammatory, non-autoimmune diffuse pain syndrome characterised by combinations of hyperalgesia, disordered non-restorative sleep and low mood. It can occur on its own (primary) or in association…
Septic arthritis Septic arthritis is a rheumatological emergency. It is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality (up to 15%), so a high index of suspicion should always be maintained. Clinical…
Introduction An acutely painful, swollen or hot joint is septic arthritis until proven otherwise. Joint infection is a medical emergency and is covered in detail in Chapter 28 , Infection…
