The Rheumatology Service of the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital offers specialized and multidisciplinary care in rheumatological diseases, with special emphasis on inflammatory pathology, bone metabolism diseases and pediatric rheumatology. In addition, it has extensive experience in the management of systemic autoimmune diseases, thus positioning the service as a reference center in this field.

In addition, the Rheumatology service, unlike other hospitals, has its own hospitalisation plant, with 4 assigned beds and the capacity to take on up to 10 patients, which allows a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to the most complex cases.

The healthcare activity is carried out in hospitalisation, day hospital and external consultations, with its own portfolio of advanced diagnostic techniques (musculoskeletal ultrasound, capillaryoscopy, densitometry, biopsies). It works in a multidisciplinary way with specialties such as Dermatology, Radiology, Immunology, Pediatrics, Nephrology and Pneumology, ensuring a comprehensive approach for each patient.

The service is integrated within the Germans Trias Teaching Unit of the Autonomous University of Barcelona with undergraduate teaching from the Faculty of Medicine and has a structured MIR training program, which offers clinical training of recognized quality, with participation in research projects. In addition, it has a study coordinator and participates in multiple clinical trials in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory pathology and bone metabolism.

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by a decrease in the amount of bone, which causes the bones to be more fragile and complicated with fractures. It is the most frequent bone disease: one in three Spanish women over 50 years of age is estimated to have osteoporosis, as well as one in 20 men. In the assessment of osteoporosis it is important to obtain a detailed clinical history to evaluate the presence of risk factors, as well as to perform a bone analysis and densitometry. Currently, there are numerous drugs that allow to increase the bone mass and reduce the onset of bone fractures.

Traditionally it was considered that osteoarthritis was an illness of the elderly. However, in recent years it has been identified as an illness that affects all the articulation including the cartilage (and its chondrocytes called cells), bone, ligaments and local musculature. Hand osteoarthritis is most frequent, followed by knee and hips. There are some diseases that favor the development of osteoarthritis such as inflammatory rheumatisms, endocrine diseases, anatomical or post-traumatic disorders. It represents the main cause of physical disability in industrialized countries.

It is an autoimmune systemic disease that can affect multiple organs such as skin, joints, kidneys, but it can also cause changes in blood such as anemia or decrease in the number of leukocytes or lymphocytes. The immune system is altered and becomes Agressor instead of protector of different parts of the body. Symptoms depend on the affected organ. Thus, patients with lupus may present a wide range of symptoms such as fatigue, fever, skin lesions, mouth abnormalities, joint pain or inflammation, among others. It can be potentially serious when vital organs like the heart, lungs, brain, spinal cord or bone marrow are affected. Currently, there are several treatments that allow the maintenance of the controlled autoimmune system and decrease the symptoms associated with this disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin characterized by inflammation of multiple joints, but can also cause nonspecific general symptoms and extra-articular involvement. It is more frequent to women. The main clinical manifestation is pain, swelling and rigidity of the joints, often symmetrically (for example, both hands). There are currently many drugs that allow to control (even make disappear) joint inflammation. However, in the absence of proper treatment, the illness can lead to significant physical limitations and a deterioration in the quality of life.

The Rheumatology service of the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital carries out an intense clinical research activity in all rheumatological areas, in collaboration with the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), with participation in national and international multicentre studies, important participation in multiple projects of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER), as well as in European projects such as the European Group of Escleroderm Tests and Research (EUSTAR).

It has a coordinator of studies and clinical trials, which allows the service to lead and participate in clinical trials of the pharmaceutical industry and independent researchers, as well as in observational and multicenter studies.

In the academic field, 50% of the members of the service have the degree of doctor, and the service maintains a strong involvement in research, with three theses currently underway under its direction. The results of the service’s research are presented at national and international conferences and published in high-impact scientific journals.

Links

• IGTP website: https://www.germanstrias.org/es/
• EUSTAR website: https://eustar.org/

Pregraded Teaching

The Rheumatology Service of the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital is linked to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and actively participates in the undergraduate and postgraduate training in Medicine. The team teaches theoretical teaching in Rheumatology and welcomes national and international students in clinical practices, offering them a close training based on real care practice. In addition, the members of the service collaborate in several doctoral programs, currently directing three doctoral theses.

Postgraded teaching

• Information for residents

The service offers comprehensive training in inflammatory pathology, systemic autoimmune diseases, bone metabolism and paediatric rheumatology combining theoretical knowledge with the development of practical skills. Residents acquire experience and solvency in both the management of the hospitalisation plant and external consultations, with training in musculoskeletal ultrasound, eco-guided infiltrations and biopsies. In addition to having their own consultation, the resident also learns in the consultations of the assistants, which allows him to face cases of different complexity with progressive supervision.

During the last year, they can do national and international rotations to deepen areas of interest. In addition, the service encourages participation in research projects and scientific publications, and maintains a high employability rate, with all residents of the last five years incorporated into hospitals or clinical research.

For more details about the training program, see the Teaching Guide.