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Systemic rheumatic diseases are chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorders, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). ED patients with systemic rheumatic diseases have complex clinical and pharmacologic histories and multi–organ system pathology. Many extra-articular manifestations of rheumatic diseases can result in serious morbidity or mortality if not recognized and properly managed.1,2 This chapter discusses rheumatologic emergencies from an organ system perspective. It will review both rheumatologic emergencies as well as care for the rheumatologic patient in the ED. Table 282-1 categorizes emergencies associated with systemic rheumatic diseases. Although the chapter should be reviewed in its entirety, high-yield clinical pearls can be found at the end of the chapter in Table 282-8.
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CLINICAL FEATURES AND DIAGNOSIS
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Table 282-2 lists typical clinical manifestations and complications specific to rheumatic diseases. The clinical descriptors may allow suspicion for a systemic rheumatic disease in a previously undiagnosed patient; however, the diagnosis cannot be confirmed during an ED visit. The diagnostic criteria and testing sequence, which are usually completed in the outpatient setting, are beyond the scope of this chapter. The need to admit a patient with a known or suspected systemic rheumatic illness depends on the severity of the patient’s presentation. In systemic rheumatic diseases, infection is the leading cause for intensive care unit admission followed by rheumatic disease flare.3 The intensive care unit admission may be the site of initial diagnosis in 20% of those with systemic rheumatic disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common rheumatic disease seen in intensive care unit patients (also the most common rheumatic disease), followed in decreasing frequency by systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis.
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