Conditions We Treat

We provide care and consultation for childhood rheumatologic and autoinflammatory disorders and evaluation for musculoskeletal disorders. The following are some of the conditions we diagnose and treat:

• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
  This is the most common form of chronic arthritis in childhood, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased function of the joints. The arthritis may be associated with rashes or fevers and can affect other parts of the body such as the eyes.
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus or SLE)
  Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system harms the body's own healthy cells and tissues. This can result in inflammation of and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
• Dermatomyositis
  Patients with juvenile dermatomyositis develop muscle and skin inflammation resulting in weakness, loss of muscle tissue and different kinds of rashes. Some children also experience abnormalities that affect the heart, lungs, intestines, joints, or other body systems.
• Raynaud Phenomenon
  This is a condition in which the blood vessels of the fingers and toes react in an extreme way to cold causing fingers and toes to change color from pale (white) to blue/purple to red. Pain or tingling can occur in the affected fingers and toes and in severe cases sores form at the tips of the digits.
• Sjögren Disease
  Rare in children, Sjogren’s disease affects the glands and ultimately causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Affected children may have swollen salivary glands, rashes, joint pain, or other unusual symptoms.
• Scleroderma or Systemic Sclerosis
  This is an autoimmune condition that causes areas of tight, hard skin. Some forms affect only the skin and others can affect blood vessels and organs.
• Behcet's Disease
  Some children with recurrent sores or ulcers in the mouth and on the genitals have Behcet’s disease. It can also cause inflammation in parts of the eye, joints, skin, or digestive tract, brain, and spinal cord.
• Recurrent Fever Syndromes
  Recurrent fever syndromes encompass a group of disorders in which there is an exaggerated inflammatory response causing fevers and other symptoms. Some are hereditary.
• Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome (AMPS)
  AMPS is a medical condition that causes intermittent or constant musculoskeletal pain. Children with AMPS experience pain more intensely because of a disruption in nerve signals.