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