The B. Shine Rheumatology Unit cares for patients with different rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthropathy, connective tissue diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, vasculitis, myositis, Sjogren’s syndrome), autoinflammatory diseases (Behcet’s disease, familial Mediterranean fever), degenerative joint diseases, crystal-induced joint diseases (gout, pseudogout), musculo-skeletal pain syndromes (enthesopathy, regional pain syndromes, fibromyalgia), and osteoporosis. The unit has extensive experience in treating patients with collagen diseases and internal organ complications (lung and heart involvement in collagen diseases, pulmonary hypertension due to collagen disease, Raynaud’s syndrome, and gastrointestinal complications in autoimmune diseases).
Treatments provided by the unit staff include intravenous drug therapies, joint injections, use of second line drugs (DMARD’s), and physical and occupational therapy. In addition, the unit team provides immediate diagnosis of joint/tendon disease and administers joint/tendon injections using a portable ultrasound device. The unit has an active day care clinic with dedicated staff that provides every kind of biological treatment such as anti-TNF drugs, mabthera, actemra, abatacept, benlysta, and IVIG. The unit team has extensive training and experience in the use of biologic agents.