Psoriatic Arthritis
Introduction Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition which affects the skin and joints. It is sometimes referred to as one of the spondyloarthritides (inflammatory arthritis that is seronegative for rheumatoid factor…
Reynauds Phenomenon. Image from Wikimedia Commons.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon
Introduction The Raynaud phenomenon – RP - (also Reynaud’s Syndrome, Raynaud’s disease or simply Reynaud’s) is a vascular condition whereby there is excessive arterial vasoconstriction, most commonly in the hands,…
Reactive Arthritis
Introduction Reactive arthritis is an acute form of spondyloarthritis associated with sexually transmitted infection (STI) and acute diarrhoea. It occurs shortly after the initial infection, although the reactive arthritis itself is…
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Introduction RA is a type of inflammatory arthritis. Other examples include seronegative spondyarthritides, reactive arthritis, lyme arthritis, crystal arthritis and postviral arthritis. Features of inflammatory arthritis Pain and stiffness worse…
Shoulder Examination
Introduction The shoulder is a ball and socket joint with a wide range of movement. The joint is somewhat unusual, in that the "socket" (glenoid) is very shallow, and as-such,…
SLE – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Introduction SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease, similar to systemic sclerosis, RA, and mixed connective tissue disease. Often, symptoms of these diseases overlap. In cases where…
X-ray of advanced ankylosing spondylitis
Spondyloarthritides (ankylosing spondylitis)
Introduction Spondyloarthritis is the 3rd main type of arthritis, after osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). Spondyloarthritis mainly affects the vertebral column in the form of ankylosing spondylitis, but…
Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)
Introduction Systemic sclerosis aka Scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder. Other similar diseases include SLE, RA, Sjogren’s syndrome and mixed connective tissue disease. There is a lot of overlap in…