Rheumatic Diseases: Clinical Perspectives

Rheumatic diseases or rheumatism are disorders that cause inflammation of the joints or connective tissue. The main cause of rheumatic disease is the malfunctioning of the immune system that attacks body's own tissues, affecting the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones and organs. Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, capsulitis, palindromic rheumatism, etc. are among the most common types of rheumatic disorders. Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone. The major factors that lead to it are previous joint injury and abnormal joint or limb development. The diagnosis of rheumatic disorders is done through physical examination and specialized laboratory and imaging tests. These include blood test, urine test, creatinine level test, uric acid test, and the ESR and CRP tests. This book provides significant information to help the readers develop a good understanding of the clinical perspectives of rheumatic diseases. It is a collective contribution of a renowned group of international experts. Those with an interest in the treatment and study of rheumatic diseases would find this book helpful.