Rheumatology

Department of Rheumatology

Helle Laustrup
Head of Department, Consultant
Phone: +45 29 17 69 97
E-mail:
helle.laustrup@rsyd.dk

Anna Sofie Lillevang
Head of Department, Head Nurse
Phone: +45 21 67 92 77
E-mail:
anna.sofie.lillevang@rsyd.dk

Professor Torkell Ellingsen
Research management, Head of research, Consultant
Phone: +45 65 41 35 23
E-mail:
torkell.ellingsen@rsyd.dk
Core Tasks
Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with acute and chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, as well as research within the same fields. Also diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of acute degenerative spine disorders. Teaching at both pre- and postgraduate level as well as training of specialists in Rheumatology. Tertiary referral center in Southern Denmark (population av. 1.2 mio.) for patients with complex, severe or rare inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
Research Areas
Research management
Research area:
Aspects of early diagnosis, treatment, disease activity, pathogenesis, prognosis, biomarkers, comorbidity, compliance, adherence and quality of life in:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Spondyloarthropathy
Arthritis urica
Sarcoidosis
ANCA-associated vasculitis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Cerebral vasculitis
Systemic sclerosis
Inflammatory Myositis
Tendinopathy
In clinically well characterised cohorts/trials:
Inception and trans-sectional cohorts
Investigator initiated trials
Randomized and open treatment strategy studies with synthetic and biological DMARD (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumtic Drugs) as well as training strategies.
Using:
Immunological and molecular-biological techniques:
Including ELISA, flow-cytometry, immunohistochemistry (synovium, tendons, muscles, arteria temporalis, kidneys), western-blotting, SNP-genetics, micro-RNA, proteomics), cellular immunology (in vitro migration, mononuclear and stem cell proliferation-assays), pharmacokinetics.
Imaging:
PET-CT, CT, MRI and, ultrasound of joints, tendons (including elastography) as well as the heart (SPECKLE TRECK, MRI-perfusion stress test and CT-KAG) and carotis.
Epidemiological and interview based approaches, structured meta-analysis:
Survival models, treatment outcome and prognosis.
Read more about the research in the department on the following website: The Rheumatology Research Unit
Key figures
Outpatient Clinic(visits) | 19.648 |
Bedward - admissions | 709 |
Average length-of-stay (days) | 4,0 |
Bedward (no. of beds) | 9 |
Specialist doctors | 11 |
Junior doctors at various stages of postgraduate medical training | 10 |
Registred nurses and assistant nurses - appr. | 28 |