Retroperitoneal Fibrosis
Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a condition characterized by the presence of inflammation and fibrosis in the retroperitoneal space, for which no standard diagnostic criteria exist. Historically, treatment has focused on…
Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy
This article presents an updated overview of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and digital clubbing for the practicing rheumatologist. Discussion includes a brief historical perspective, its definition, incidence and prevalence, classification, pathology and…
Localized Cutaneous Fibrosing Disorders
This article acquaints the reader with disorders of the skin that might mimic systemic sclerosis but whose pathology is localized to the skin and/or has extracutaneous manifestations that are different…
Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is the name for protein-folding diseases characterized by extracellular deposition of a specific soluble precursor protein that aggregates in the form of insoluble fibrils. The classification of amyloidosis is…
Erdheim-Chester Disease
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis. Diagnosis of ECD is based on the identification in tissue biopsy of histiocytes, which are typically foamy and immunostain…
Whipple’s Disease
This article reviews the microbiology, pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic testing, and treatment of Whipple’s disease, an illness caused by Tropheryma whipplei and characterized by multivariate clinical manifestations including an…
Extrapulmonary Manifestations of Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease characterized by the development of epithelioid granulomas in various organs. Although the lungs are involved in most patients with sarcoidosis, virtually any organ can be…
Relapsing Polychondritis
Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare systemic autoimmune disease characterized by episodic, progressive inflammatory destruction of cartilage. It can occur as an overlap syndrome in patients with other rheumatologic conditions….
Behçet’s Syndrome
Behçet’s syndrome (BS) shows a peculiar distribution, with a much higher prevalence in countries along the ancient Silk Road compared with rest of the world. BS also seems to follow…
Ultrasound and Treatment Algorithms of RA and JIA
Musculoskeletal ultrasound has emerged as a key tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and other rheumatic diseases. The most important sonographic findings in…
