Rheumatology is the branch of Internal Medicine that treats “rheumatic diseases”, pathological conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, tendons, muscles and connective tissues, with the possible involvement of internal organs such as the heart, lungs, vascular system and nervous system.

The term rheumatism does not refer to a specific organ or system, unlike conditions affecting the heart, lungs or digestive system. It derives from the Greek word “rheo”, meaning “I flow”, as these diseases were once thought to be caused by harmful fluids flowing through the body.

Joint pain is a common symptom of rheumatic diseases and may be caused by degenerative, inflammatory or metabolic processes, without excluding possible psychosomatic causes. Other symptoms may include fatigue, tiredness, fever and skin rashes.

For many rheumatic diseases, the causes have not yet been fully established, although the role of autoimmune and genetic processes is becoming increasingly evident. While some forms can be treated without lasting consequences, most are chronic conditions that may lead to a deterioration in quality of life, particularly if diagnosis is delayed.

The main rheumatic diseases include:

• Degenerative diseases: Osteoarthritis
• Chronic inflammatory diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis
• Connective tissue and systemic diseases: Lupus, Scleroderma, Sjögren’s syndrome, Polymyositis, Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases, Vasculitis, Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Metabolic diseases: Gout, Chondrocalcinosis
• Bone diseases: Osteoporosis
• Extra-articular rheumatic conditions: Periarthritis, Tendinitis, Fibromyalgia