Abu Dhabi: An inflammatory disease that causes much suffering and pain is still being diagnosed about six years late among patients, a leading rheumatologist in the capital has said.
This kind of arthritis — known as ankylosing spondylitis — can irreversibly damage and deform the joints when treatment is not provided early, which is why patients must report any symptoms to doctors, advised Dr Irena Khostanteen, consultant rheumatologist at the Health Shield Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi.
“Back pain is a common concern in the UAE, and about 10 per cent of those who experience it may actually have ankylosing spondylitis. The inflammation that occurs can also lead to the thickening of the arteries, increasing the risk for a heart attack or stroke,” Dr Khostanteen told Gulf News.
She was speaking ahead of the opening of the Health Shield Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, a new outpatient clinic and day surgery centre that is set to open its doors this week. The clinic will provide treatment and diagnostic services for rheumatological concerns, as well as for 12 other specialities, including dermatology, paediatrics, pulmonology, cardiology and family medicine.
Dr Khostanteen said that many patients and even physicians mistake the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis for chronic back pain.
- Dr Irena Khostanteen | Rheumatologist
“If you have persistent back pain for more than three months, especially discomfort that is more noticeable at night and stiffness in the morning, it is time to see a rheumatologist. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis also find it hard to start moving in the morning for at least half an hour after waking up,” the doctor explained.
The disease tends to first show up when patients are between the ages of 15 and 30, and is more common among men. When treatment is delayed, the inflammation can spread to the shoulders and down to the hips, causing immobility in the spine. Over time, hip replacements can become necessary.
“In the first stages, patients encounter stiffness when bending or lifting, or standing for a long time. These should never be ignored,” Dr Khostanteen warned.
The Health Shield Medical Centre, which formally opened on Thursday, is located in the Ministries Complex and can accommodate up to 350 patients every day.
“We will offer patients the opportunity to have surgical and procedural services performed outside the hospital setting; everything we do is driven by best practice care and our belief of putting the health outcomes of our patients at the forefront,” said Dr Mishal Al Kasimi, chief executive officer at Health Shield.
