Rheumatology


Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Autoimmune Diseases

In the broad field of arthritic and rheumatic conditions, our rheumatologists have gained international reputation for their leadership in treatment, research and education. Because there are so many types of arthritic conditions, successful treatment depends on the highly accurate diagnosis we provide.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

We have been at the forefront in developing practice guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and monitoring its therapy. We can evaluate patients for appropriateness of second-line therapy and work with you in managing it. We pioneered a unique, highly accurate system for measuring the progress of arthritis patients based on their own assessment of pain and disability. This type of outcome approach is now widely used at other arthritis centers.

Scleroderma

Our scleroderma program, the largest in New England, offers the latest diagnostic and therapeutic measures available. We offer a multidisciplinary approach for comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients with all forms of scleroderma, with specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, dermatology, radiology, urology and others as needed. Our extensive research in this area includes exploration of basic connective tissue biology and evaluation of medications through clinical trials. Our program is a member of the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium.

Vasculitis

We have pioneered the development of the NIH sponsored Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium. We offer internationally recognized expertise in the evaluation and treatment of all forms of vasculitis.

Lupus

Members of our staff helped develop the nationally accepted classification of systemic lupus erythematosus, which has made this formerly elusive connective tissue disease easier to diagnose. We pioneered various treatments for lupus, particularly at the stage when the disease begins to affect the kidneys. We work together with other specialists at Boston Medical Center to treat all the manifestations of this multi-system disease. Our active research efforts include clinical and epidemiological studies.

Amyloidosis

Boston Medical Center is an international referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of amyloidosis, a rare group of diseases caused by the abnormal accumulation of the protein amyloid in various parts of the body. We are one of only two centers nationwide that treat amyloidosis and offer a multidisciplinary approach to this multi-organ disorder. We coordinate our diagnosis and innovative treatments with other specialists at BMC, streamlining the process for the patient. Although amyloidosis is not cancer, the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at BMC pioneered the use of stem cell transplantation to successfully treat the primary form of the disease.

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis specialists at Boston Medical Center are among the nation’s leaders in research into osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. We helped define the role of weight loss and exercise in osteoarthritis treatment and have begun to study the effect of diet and nutritional supplements on symptoms. We work closely with orthopedic specialists at the Arthritis Center to help patients decide if they need surgery.

Fibromyalgia and Soft Tissue Disorders

We have had a longstanding interest in the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia, formerly known as fibrositis. Our staff members have made important contributions to the study of this disorder, a form of muscular rheumatism and the most common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain in women aged 20 to 50. While there is currently no known cure for fibromyalgia, we have developed effective treatment approaches that include medication coupled with a tailored exercise program.

Other Rheumatic Conditions

We also offer diagnosis and treatment for soft-tissue rheumatism including Raynaud’s disease, tendonitis and bursitis, shoulder, neck and knee problems, gout, and other disorders of bones, joints and muscles. Other conditions in which we have expertise are infectious arthritis and Lyme disease.