In rheumatology, physiatry and immunology, systemic diseases affect not only the musculoskeletal system but also all other organs and organ systems (digestive, respiratory, urinary, reproductive, visual, nervous, cardiovascular, haematological, endocrine and skin). They are also called systemic connective tissue diseases.
Rheumatology is a specialty that deals with complex responses relating to diseases that can affect any tissue or organ. Rheumatologists are specially trained to detect these rare diseases. The disease often does not appear in its full form, and overlap syndromes with mixed clinical and laboratory findings are not uncommon. A great deal of patience is needed, because all of these diseases are genuinely serious and unpredictable, but with advances in medicine, new medicines and diagnostics, positive progress can be seen.
Trust your rheumatologist: only through cooperation between you, your family doctor and your rheumatologist can these serious and still poorly understood diseases be fought successfully.
