Rheumatology

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Unmasking the Masquerader

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem, autoimmune disease that is challenging to diagnose because of its heterogeneous clinical manifestations, often relies on clinical expertise and appropriate laboratory testing. SLE is rare, affecting less than 0.1% of the global population, but its prevalence has been underestimated in Africa. Treatment for SLE aims to control disease activity, reduce flares and prevent organ damage. It includes a combination of anti-inflammatory agents, immunosuppressants, immunomodulatory agents and nonpharmacological measures. Long-term follow-up and monitoring are essential to assess disease activity, manage symptoms and prevent damage accrual in patients with SLE, with awareness of cardiovascular risk management and addressing complications during pregnancy.

Modern Medicine – Issue 5, 2025

Inflammatory Arthritis and Ocular Complications: An Overview

Inflammatory arthritis often leads to debilitating symptoms and systemic manifestations. Among its various complications, ocular involvement remains a concern, affecting up to 40% of patients with inflammatory arthritis. The diagnosis of ocular complications relies on clinical assessment, ophthalmic examination and laboratory investigations. Early recognition and appropriate referral to an ophthalmologist are crucial. Treatment options include corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics targeting specific cytokines. The response to treatment varies depending on the type of ocular manifestation and the underlying inflammatory arthritis.

Modern Medicine – Issue 4, 2025

Crystal Arthritis – Managing Gout and Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease

Crystal arthritis is a commonly encountered musculoskeletal presentation. Most of these presentations are related to gout or calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), with patients treated for acute and chronic arthritis. Demonstration of crystals in synovial fluid on polarising light microscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis but clinical features and imaging can assist. Anti-inflammatory therapies are available for the management of acute gout flares and CPPD, and urate-lowering therapy for long-term gout management.

Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2024.

An Update on Clinical Prospects and Management of Osteoarthritis

The rising prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in the general population has necessitated the development of novel treatment options. Over the next few years, several prospective therapies focusing on inflammation, cartilage metabolism, subchondral bone remodelling, cellular senescence and the peripheral nociceptive pathway are predicted to transform the OA therapy landscape. This is a shortened version of the original open access articles.

Modern Medicine – Issue 4 2023

Halt the Pain and Progression of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterised by pain and progressive functional limitation. Viscosupplementation with intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) is a treatment option in knee and hip OA and potentially should apply to all synovial joints in order to reduce pain and improve joint lubrication. Exogenous HA can enhance chondrocyte HA synthesis, prevent the degradation of cartilage, reduce the production of proinflammatory mediators and promote its regeneration.

Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2022

Hyaluronic Acid Pushes Back against Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterised by progressive damage of articular cartilage and underlying bone. It is a common rheumatic disease that affects both genders, especially in older people. Several clinical trials have shown that hyaluronic acid reduces arthritic pain in osteoarthritis of the knee with significant improvements in pain and physical function. It has an excellent tolerability profile with a low incidence of local complications and absence of systemic effects.

Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2021

Hyaluronic Acid Cuts Inflammation in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and one of the leading causes of disability. Over the past decades, there has been an ongoing trend to use intra-articular injections of corticosteroids, analgesics/anti-inflammatory drugs, polymerised collagen, anti-cytokine drugs or hyaluronic acid as alternative modalities to maximise the topical effect and minimise the systemic adverse effects. Each injection has been shown to lower pain in patients in some form, though hyaluronic acid treatments seem to be the safest and to last the longest.

Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2020

Raynaud’s Phenomenon: Time to Take it Seriously – MM1608

The prognosis for people with Raynaud’s phenomenon depends on its severity and whether there is associated underlying medical illness, most commonly an autoimmune disease.

Modern Medicine – August 2016