Patna, Sept. 10: Veteran rheumatologists from across the country gathered here today to participate in an education programme on rheumatology.

The event, which was organised under the aegis of East Zone Rheumatology Conference, saw various experts delve deep into various subjects of rheumatology.

Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and paediatrics, devoted to diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatologists deal mainly with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues, autoimmune disease, vasculitis and heritable connective tissue disorders, experts said.

“Rheumatology is a rapidly evolving medical specialty with advancements owing largely to new scientific discoveries related to the immunology of these disorders. Because characteristics of some rheumatological disorders are often best explained by immunology, pathogenesis of many major rhematological disorders are now described in terms of the autoimmune disease,” said Dr S.M. Malviya, who had come from Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Delhi.

During her lecture on treatment methods available for such maladies, Dr Amita Agarwal, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute, Lucknow, spoke at length about treatment methods available for rheumatoid arthritis patients. She said most rheumatic diseases are treated with analgesics, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, monoclonal antibiotics such as Infliximab and Adalimumab for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Earlier, while inaugurating the event, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said it was a welcome sign for the health sector in Bihar where learning sessions for medical practitioners are being organised so frequently.