Rheumatic diseases can manifest in multiple ways. However, the warning symptoms are: persistent pain in joints or muscles; prolonged morning stiffness; joint deformation; changes in blood tests (C-reactive protein, sedimentation rate, etc.) or presence of antibodies to rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, etc.). According to Dr. Pedro Carvalho, there are also other manifestations such as dry eye complaints or dry mouth with no apparent cause; sensitivity to sunlight and skin lesions that may be associated with rheumatic diseases (psoriasis, cutaneous lupus, sclerodactyly, etc.), especially in the presence of other symptoms suggestive of rheumatic disease.
However, this specialist warns that the presence of these signs and symptoms is not synonymous with rheumatic disease. For the diagnosis to be made, it is necessary to integrate all clinical and laboratory information. Therefore, if you are in the presence of one or more of these symptoms, you should in fact seek the opinion of a Rheumatologist.
13, September 2019
