Rheumatic Disease In Geriatrics

This book provides a practical guide to the diagnosis and management of rheumatic disease in geriatric patients. It details information on the effect of ageing on musculoskeletal and immune systems and specifies impact of a variety of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic disorders on the elderly. The clinical diagnostic approach to an older individual with musculoskeletal complaints is a cornerstone of this book, which includes also insights into the most important comorbidities for this age and discusses in depth available treatments and rehabilitation tools. The symptoms, imaging features and recommendations on the interpretation of specific laboratory tests for rheumatic diseases in geriatrics are also covered. This book encompasses traditionally associated with older age conditions including temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteoarthritis, as well as common systemic autoimmune diseases that can produce atypical manifestations in the elderly. It will enable the readers to develop a thorough understanding of how to deal with these patients in their clinical practice. Rheumatic Disease in Geriatrics: Diagnosis and Management systematically describes how to diagnose and treat geriatric patients with a variety of rheumatic conditions and is a valuable resource for all medical professionals involved.

This issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics, guest edited by Drs. James Katz and Brian Walitt with the NIH, will cover several key aspects of diagnosing and treating Rheumatic Diseases in Older Adults. The Consulting Editor for the series is Dr. Michael Weisman. The topics discussed in the issue will include: Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the Geriatrician, Pathogenesis and Management of Sarcopenia, A Review of Osteoporosis in the Older Adult, Regional Rheumatic Disorders and Rehabilitation in Older Adults, Rheumatologic Manifestations of Malignancy, Sjögren Syndrome and Other Causes of Sicca in Older Adults, Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases, Update on Crystal-Induced Arthritides, Immune dysregulation in aging with a focus on B cells and their potential clinical consequence, and Spinal Stenosis, among others.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine, guest edited by Drs. James D. Katz and Brian Walitt of the NIH, is devoted to Rheumatic Diseases in Older Adults. Articles in this outstanding issue include Rheumatology Pharmacotherapy Pearls for the General Practitioner; Sarcopenia - Pathogenesis and Management; Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases; Osteoarthritis; Regional Rheumatic Disorders and Rehabilitation in Older Adults; Rheumatological Manifestations of Malignancy; Sjögren’s Syndrome; Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases; Gaps in Aging Research as it Applies to Rheumatological Clinical Care; and Update on Crystal-induced Arthritides.

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common cause of activity limitation in older adults. Thus, this issue on Rheumatic Diseases of the Elderly includes pharmacological pain management of rheumatic disorders, as well as a discussion of specific disorders such as arthritis and osteoporosis. In addition to providing treatment options, several articles focus on coping with chronic rheumatic pain. With an increase in the number of geriatric patients seeking care by rheumatologists, the need for special attention to geriatric rheumatology is evident.

The first book dedicated explicitly to the care of elderly patients with rheumatic diseases, this comprehensive resource is a practical guide for navigating the medical concerns of these complex patients. While patients over 65 years of age comprise roughly 15% of the population, they consume about 50% of rheumatology resources. This book presents current clinical practices with an eye toward achieving economically sustainable models of care. The world’s leading authorities have come together to cover the full spectrum of rheumatic diseases, the immune system in aging, and ultrasound evaluation and arthrocentesis. The book also addresses the milieu of co-morbidities that the clinician may encounter with an older patient, as well as the accompanying concerns about multiple pharmacologic therapies and drug interactions. Bringing in experts from a wide array of subspecialties, the editors present the essentials of multidisciplinary care, an approach which is the hallmark of geriatrics and which naturally translates into the field of gerontorheumatology. Designed for primary care physicians and rheumatology consultants, Geriatric Rheumatology is an invaluable guide to caring for this rapidly growing patient population.