Patient Education

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

Sitting down and listening to a patient’s story is the first step in diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. While swollen joints are a large indicator of Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are many other symptoms, such as fatigue, anxiety and depression, and stiffness. Doctors are diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis much earlier now, to prevent joint damage and begin treatment as soon as possible. In this video, Dr. Uzma Haque, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, explains the diagnosis process of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

While there’s no cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis yet, there are many preventative medications. They range from oral pills to injections that can be done at home or by a doctor, which are working for many people who have been diagnosed. All these different treatment options can help patients achieve their goals and stay healthy and functional. In this video, Dr. Laura Cappelli, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, discusses the different treatment options for Rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Lifestyle Options

Exercise, eating well, and speaking openly with a rheumatologist can help prevent flares and strengthen joints. In our final episode on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dr. Uzma Haque, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, talks about the dangers of elimination diets and the benefits of stretching and exercise.

Dermatomyositis Disease Overview

Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune myopathy disease that targets the muscles and skin. Dermatomyositis causes a characteristic skin rash on the chest, back, or arms that looks like a sunburn. It also causes muscle weakness so severe that it can be hard for some patients to do everyday things such as climbing a flight of stairs, standing up from a chair or bed, and even combing their hair. In this video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explores the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for Dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis Signs & Symptoms

A common complication in any of the rheumatic diseases is Reynaud’s disease, and Dermatomyositis is no different. Dermatomyositis presents symptoms in many ways; however, the most common signs are skin, muscle, and lung issues. The skin usually presents a rash (like a sunburn) that doesn’t go away, there is progressive muscle weakness, and lung inflammation that causes extreme shortness of breath. In this video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explains the common symptoms of Dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis Diagnosis

The enzymes that indicate Dermatomyositis also indicate liver disease, which is much more common. Most doctors will perform a liver biopsy that shows everything is normal. Then, they will look at the enzymes in the muscle and see that there is a problem. In this video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, discusses the process of diagnosing Dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis Treatment

The goal of treatment in Dermatomyositis is to bring down the immune system so that it stops attacking the healthy tissues in the muscle. There are many side effects of the medication, Prednisone, that is used to treat myositis diseases, so the patient won’t stay on it for long. Scientists and doctors are still looking for alternative medicines that are more effective and less harmful. In this video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explains the treatment options for Dermatomyositis.

Dermatomyositis Lifestyle Options

Exercising, avoiding the sun, and maintaining a relatively stress-free lifestyle are three ways to stay healthy and avoid flares. In the last episode of this five-part video series, Dr. Eleni Tiniakou, a physician at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, explains the steps to living a normal life after a Dermatomyositis diagnosis.

Antisynthetase Syndrome Disease Overview

Antisynthetase Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that is a subcategory of Myositis, which means muscle disease. There are many different areas that Antisynthetase Syndrome affects, however, a few common ones are the muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and joint pain. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a physician in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology, digs into the complicated nature of Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Antisynthetase Syndrome Signs & Symptoms

While the symptoms of Antisynthetase Syndrome vary greatly from patient to patient, the most common symptoms are muscle weakness, joint pain, and lung inflammation. Because of the varying symptoms of this disease, it is advised for patients to have frequent follow ups with their Rheumatologist. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a physician in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology, explains the signs and symptoms a patient may display with Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Antisynthetase Syndrome Diagnosis

Because patients present with Antisynthetase Syndrome very differently, a diagnosis is often hard to make. The antibodies that a patient makes is necessary to know to diagnose and treat Antisynthetase properly, so a lot of testing is involved. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a physician in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology, discusses the way a patient is diagnosed with Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Antisynthetase – Treatment

Treatment for Antisynthetase Syndrome depends on the symptoms the patient has, but always helps to calm down an overactive nervous system. In this episode, Dr. Christopher Mecoli, a physician in the Johns Hopkins Division of Rheumatology, discusses the treatment options for patients with Antisynthetase Syndrome.