Whether paediatric rheumatology is a hereditary condition is a subject of mammoth study for rheumatology specialists. According to experts, there is certainly a role played by family history in developing rheumatic arthritis. However, environmental factors such as age, gender, and smoking factor in as well.
Genetics and rheumatoid arthritis is a subject that many expert rheumatologists dwell on. Rheumatoid arthritis, a multifactorial disease, is a common type of inflammatory arthritis that affects many joints. According to studies, genes only slightly increase the risk for rheumatoid arthritis, and that the environment factors (age, gender, etc.) are likely to play a stronger role. However, recent studies conducted by rheumatology specialists suggest relationship between smoking and DR4 that leads to an increased rheumatoid arthritis risk.
Pediatric rheumatology comprises of auto-inflammatory monogenic diseases, auto-inflammatory multifactorial diseases with complex inheritance, and diseases with uncertain clinical diagnosis or undefined conditions. It is found that most of these diseases are systemic; however, it becomes important to diagnose patients on time and definitively and to select the right treatment options based on the diagnoses. Since clinical observation and acute-phase responses are most often adequate for diagnosis, at times genetic analyses are suggested for supportive data for definite diagnosis and treatment.
It is found that in paediatric rheumatology, it is very important that outpatient clinics, early diagnosis of different types of diseases, and accurate treatment in association are done on timely basis. Although diagnoses are essentially done on clinical observation and examinations, the role of genetic diagnosis are not ruled out, as they are supportive in diagnosis and directive in treatment in some of these diseases. Pediatric rheumatology constitutes a part of inflammation bases diseases that occur in childhood.
Based on evidence found by rheumatology specialists, it suggests that the paediatric inflammatory diseases encountered in rheumatology practice might be largely genetic in origin, where common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in multiple genes adds to risk, with real but variable environmental components. It further conveys that the most common group of paediatric rheumatic diseases are the juvenile idiopathic arthritides, followed by juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), and rarer diseases such as juvenile dermatomyositis, primary vasculitides, and scleroderma.
Dr. Saimun Singla is board-certified in general pediatrics and pediatric rheumatology. What distinguishes her is that she is the only pediatric sub-specialist in Houston who has extra fellowship training and board-certification in integrative medicine. In contrast to traditional medical practises, where the primary focus is often on managing sick symptoms, Dr. Saimun Singla uses an integrative approach to treat children with chronic rheumatic conditions.
