Endocrine origins of rheumatic disease

PREVIEW

Patients who seek medical attention for a musculoskeletal complaint may have an underlying endocrine disorder that has thus far gone undiagnosed. In contrast, patients with a known rheumatic disease may have endocrine abnormalities that require treatment. Identifying the origins of such conditions can be a diagnostic challenge. In this article, Dr Lockshin leads us through the maze of various rheumatic presentations that are suggestive of an endocrine disorder and discusses the endocrine effects of rheumatic disease.