Pediatric Rheumatology conditions we treat:

• Juvenile Arthritis Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in children can present with a variety of symptoms and range of severity. The most common subtypes oligoarticular (few joints), polyarticular (many joints), systemic (fevers, rash, arthritis), enthesitis related arthritis (arthritis, tendon insertion pain, and back involvement), psoriatic arthritis (arthritis associated with psoriasis) and inflammatory bowel disease related arthritis.
• Juvenile Dermatomyositis (Rash) Juvenile Dermatomyositis is an autoimmune disorder causing muscle inflammation, weakness and a characteristic rash often seen over knuckles, eyelids, face, elbows and knees.
• Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder impacting multiple organ systems. SLE often presents with sun sensitive rash, joint or muscle pain, arthritis, mouth sores, fatigue, and fevers. SLE can impact the kidneys, lungs, or the central nervous system.
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease Mixed Connective Tissue Disease is an autoimmune disorder often presenting with raynauds, arthritis, myositis, and rash. Some patients can have lung involvement.
• Scleroderma Localized Scleroderma is the most common form of scleroderma in children which primarily causes linear bands or patches of skin thickening. Systemic Scleroderma is less common in pediatrics and can have more diffuse skin thickening with the addition or raynauds phenomenon, gastrointestinal, lung and cardiac involvement over time.
• Vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) There are many forms of vasculitis. The symptoms vary primarily depending on the different sizes of blood vessels involved. Vasculitis can present with fevers, various rashes, kidney inflammation, lung inflammation, sinus symptoms, hypertension, and changes around the vessels off the heart.
• Auto-Inflammatory Fever Syndromes Auto-inflammatory fever, also referred as periodic fever syndromes, are often genetic syndromes characterized by acute attacks of recurrent fevers without signs of infection. Patients often have rashes, musculoskeletal, ocular, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms during times of fever episodes. Between attacks patients are generally healthy.

Associated disorders that pediatric rheumatology helps co-manage:

• UveitisInflammatory disorder of the eye that can be seen in isolation but also in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other systemic autoimmune disorders.
• RaynaudsChanges to finger tips with cold exposure can be seen in healthy young adults, but also this can be associated with underlying autoimmunity.
• Isolated Musculoskeletal Pain without InflammationOften related to joint laxity and overuse (hypermobility arthralgias) but can also be a manifestation of pain syndromes (amplified musculoskeletal pain, reflex neurovascular dystrophy), and patellofemoral syndrome. Many of the above disorders are treated with physical therapy, occupational therapy, and also may benefit from biofeedback with a desensitization and pain psychology focus.
• Hypermobility Disorders and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility disorders fall along a spectrum, with non-complicated joint hypermobility on one end and hypermobility type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) on the other. An inherited connective tissue disorder, hEDS is caused by defects in a protein called collagen. Common symptoms include large and small joint hypermobility; soft, smooth skin that stretches or bruises easily; and chronic pain in the muscles and joints.
• Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Disorder often associated with blood clots in young adults. This can be seen in association with underling autoimmune disorders or in otherwise healthy individuals.