VIDEO: Pattern recognition provides clues to rheumatologic diagnoses

WAILEA, HAWAII – Several patterns can provide clues to diagnoses of rheumatologic diseases, according to Daniel E. Furst, MD, professor of rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle.

Dermatology and rheumatology share the use of pattern recognition when making a diagnosis, he said in a video interview at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation. An important pattern is the idea of polyarticular versus monoarticular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, and gout and crystalline diseases, he said, encompass “about 80% of the cases with polyarticular arthritis.”

Another pattern to consider is symmetry versus asymmetry. Osteoarthritis and gout will be asymmetric, while autoimmune diseases and RA will be symmetrical, Dr. Furst pointed out. Also consider areas of involvement, such as upper and lower parts of the body. “Lower tends to be more gout and more OA,” while upper-extremity involvement is more likely to be autoimmune diseases and RA, he said.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to be a rheumatologist; just remember some simple stuff,” added Dr. Furst, who also discusses the use of lab tests in the interview.

Dr. Furst is also professor emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, and is affiliated with the University of Florence (Italy) Medical School.

He disclosed financial relationships with companies including AbbVie, Actelion, Amgen, BMS, Cytori, Genentech/Roche, Novartis, and Pfizer.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

WAILEA, HAWAII – Several patterns can provide clues to diagnoses of rheumatologic diseases, according to Daniel E. Furst, MD, professor of rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle.

Dermatology and rheumatology share the use of pattern recognition when making a diagnosis, he said in a video interview at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation. An important pattern is the idea of polyarticular versus monoarticular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, and gout and crystalline diseases, he said, encompass “about 80% of the cases with polyarticular arthritis.”

Another pattern to consider is symmetry versus asymmetry. Osteoarthritis and gout will be asymmetric, while autoimmune diseases and RA will be symmetrical, Dr. Furst pointed out. Also consider areas of involvement, such as upper and lower parts of the body. “Lower tends to be more gout and more OA,” while upper-extremity involvement is more likely to be autoimmune diseases and RA, he said.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to be a rheumatologist; just remember some simple stuff,” added Dr. Furst, who also discusses the use of lab tests in the interview.

Dr. Furst is also professor emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, and is affiliated with the University of Florence (Italy) Medical School.

He disclosed financial relationships with companies including AbbVie, Actelion, Amgen, BMS, Cytori, Genentech/Roche, Novartis, and Pfizer.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

WAILEA, HAWAII – Several patterns can provide clues to diagnoses of rheumatologic diseases, according to Daniel E. Furst, MD, professor of rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle.

Dermatology and rheumatology share the use of pattern recognition when making a diagnosis, he said in a video interview at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation. An important pattern is the idea of polyarticular versus monoarticular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, autoimmune diseases, and gout and crystalline diseases, he said, encompass “about 80% of the cases with polyarticular arthritis.”

Another pattern to consider is symmetry versus asymmetry. Osteoarthritis and gout will be asymmetric, while autoimmune diseases and RA will be symmetrical, Dr. Furst pointed out. Also consider areas of involvement, such as upper and lower parts of the body. “Lower tends to be more gout and more OA,” while upper-extremity involvement is more likely to be autoimmune diseases and RA, he said.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to be a rheumatologist; just remember some simple stuff,” added Dr. Furst, who also discusses the use of lab tests in the interview.

Dr. Furst is also professor emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, and is affiliated with the University of Florence (Italy) Medical School.

He disclosed financial relationships with companies including AbbVie, Actelion, Amgen, BMS, Cytori, Genentech/Roche, Novartis, and Pfizer.

SDEF and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.