Rheumatology

Leadership

Website Creates Worldwide Social Network of Rheumatologists 

A new rheumatology website launched after two years of building and resource development. Charles H. Spencer, MD, of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University Section of Pediatric Rheumatology and Reuven Bromberg, MD, of the pediatric rheumatology section of Stanford University headed the project. The purpose of the web site is to create a worldwide social network of pediatric and adult rheumatologists. Through the contribution of educational photos, radiographs, lectures, instructive cases, job opportunities, directories of rheumatologists and other useful educational tools and information, the site will stimulate the growth of rheumatology internationally. Also, the web site may be utilized as a resource for medical professional rheumatology education, which would ultimately improve patient care. The posted materials are free and open to the public. Visit www.rheumatlas.org to view the posted materials.  

Research 

We participate in clinical research, but our first priority is always patient care.We would never treat a patient, or their parent, with any less respect or care if they did not participate in research. We believe it would be unethical, and we would never participate in any research that we thought might harm our patients. Children's has an institutional review board that has very strict rules about how research involving patients must be performed. We also have available the facilities and expertise of Pediatric Clinical Trials International (PCTI). 

Since the number of children with arthritis, or lupus, for example is small in comparison to adults, it is essential for multiple pediatric rheumatology centers to participate in collaborative research. Otherwise, it will be impossible to have enough patients in certain studies to reach meaningful conclusions. 

Most of the pediatric rheumatologists in the United States have come together to form a group called the Pediatric Rheumatology Collaborative Study Group, or PRCSG. This group is lead by pediatric rheumatologists who have great experience in designing and performing clinical research.We belong to the PRCSG, and are committed to only doing studies of high quality – that is those that are well designed and likely to give very useful results.

What rheumatology studies are currently in progress in Rheumatology?

• Comparison (efficacy) study of Vioxx (a COX II inhibitor) versus Naprosyn (a nonselective COX inhibitor) in children with arthritis
• Clinical trial (efficacy study) of r-met-HuIL-1ra (Anakinra) in children with arthritis
• Registry of patients on etanercept (Enbrel) and/or methotrexate (to compare side effects)

Recommended Links

• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - NIH
• Juvenile Arthritis - Arthritis Foundation
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Lupus Foundation of America
• Lupus Around the World
• The Arthritis Society (of Canada)
• Myositis Association of America
• Juvenile Dermatomyositis
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
• Wegener’s Granulomatosis Association
• Scleroderma Foundation
• Scleroderma F.A.Q.
• National Association for Rare Disorders, Inc.
• American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.