Rheumatic illnesses

Rheumatology is often referred to as a medical speciality concerning diseases in the locomotor system, i.e. peripheral joints, spine, muscles and tendons. However, apart from bone, articular cartilage and connective tissue, rheumatic disease may affect any organ system or tissue in the body, e.g. vessels, blood cells, bone marrow, lymph nodes, skin, adipose tissue, mucous membranes, the peripheral and central nervous systems, kidneys, liver, hormone-producing organs, etc.

Most rheumatic conditions dealt with at specialised clinical rheumatology units are related to immune reactions and inflammation. Many of these disorders are presumed to be of autoimmune origin, meaning that the specific immunological tolerance of ‘self’ becomes lost and leads to specific immunological attacks of self-molecules/tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are examples of inflammatory diseases, where autoimmune pathogenesis is likely. Some inflammatory rheumatic diseases are instead caused by direct activation of the innate immune system, e.g. gout and other periodic inflammatory conditions (autoinflammatory diseases).

• Research in rheumatology at Linköping University
• Inflammatory mediators in rheumatic diseases
•   PDGF and TGF-a and their target cells  (Link to Åke Wasteson’s site)