Rheumatology Summit convenes regional experts

The meeting attended by 75 Rheumatologists from UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, and Egypt aims to improve diagnosis and promote early aggressive treatment.

Professor Tahsin El-Hadidi, President of International League of Associations for Rheumatology, comments, "RA is a major disease crippling our society and continues to have a serious impact on the quality of life of sufferers across the Middle East. This meeting will improve awareness and further re-enforce the idea that living successfully with RA begins with education."

The summit provided recommendations on the diagnosis and evaluation of RA patients. Dr. Ayman Massri, Rheumatologist, French clinic, Sharjah, comments, "The success of treating an RA patient relies on correct diagnosis and evaluation. Assessment tools and treatment guidelines are essential to make sure that patients continue to receive the best possible treatment."

The meeting paid particular emphasis to a lesser-understood arthritic condition, ankylosing spondilitis (AS). Dr. Massri, adds, "This condition, which when left undiagnosed can lead to serious spinal problems in adult life. AS is particularly prevalent among the older population, but there is a sudden increase in the number of children suffering from this serious bone condition."

Professor Joern Kekow, Prof for Rheumatology, University of Magdeburg, Germany, examined achieving the ultimate treatment goal of remission, and adds, "There are numerous treatment options available to the physician which may result in remission. The role of biological medications in combination with other treatments are particularly successful in achieving this goal."

The meeting included a series of hands-on workshops on the role of biological treatments in Juvenile Arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and cardiovascular complications in rheumatic diseases.