Inflammatory arthritis

This comprehensive course, led by Dr. Alice Lam, is divided into five detailed units, each addressing a critical aspect of inflammatory arthritis.

Unit 1: Overview and Clinical Cases
Explore the fundamentals of inflammatory arthritis, including its prevalence, economic impact, and diagnostic challenges. The unit introduces key features of early arthritis detection, emphasizing timely intervention to improve patient outcomes. Case studies on septic arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica highlight diagnostic and management approaches, ensuring practical application in clinical settings.

Unit 2: Gout and Pseudogout
This unit provides an in-depth look at crystal-induced arthritis, focusing on the causes, clinical features, and management of gout and pseudogout. Learn to differentiate these conditions through diagnostic tools such as polarised light microscopy and joint aspiration. Treatment strategies, including acute and long-term management plans, are detailed with an emphasis on patient education and prophylactic care.

Unit 3: Rheumatoid Arthritis (Part 1)
Dive into the etiology, progression, and systemic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This unit covers early detection, serological testing, and the importance of the ""window of opportunity"" for intervention. Detailed discussions on disease presentation, including joint deformities, extra-articular manifestations, and comorbidities, provide a solid foundation for managing RA effectively.

Unit 4: Rheumatoid Arthritis (Part 2)
Building on the previous unit, this section focuses on RA treatment. Learn about the treat-to-target approach, including DMARDs, biologics, and glucocorticoid therapy. The unit also discusses considerations for RA in pregnancy, vaccination recommendations, and lifestyle modifications to support patient health. Practical guidelines for pharmacotherapy and long-term disease monitoring are provided.

Unit 5: Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
The final unit explores spondyloarthritis conditions, highlighting psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Topics include clinical features, genetic predispositions, and diagnostic imaging. Management strategies combine pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, with a focus on improving quality of life and addressing comorbidities such as depression and cardiovascular risks.

This course combines theoretical knowledge with real-world case studies, ensuring participants are equipped to diagnose and manage inflammatory arthritis confidently and effectively in clinical practice.

1. Determine the steps to initiate a diagnosis in patients with acutely painful joints and plan the collaborative management with specialist/s for common inflammatory arthritis.

All degree qualified medical practitioners.