Introduction

　　【Overview】

　　Led by Consultant Doctor Lijun Zhang and Professor Chak Sing Lau (Hong Kong University), the Rheumatology Division now has nine specialists, four with PhD degree and five with master’s. There are two consultants, two associated consultants, one senior resident and five junior residents. Three of them have chief physician titles, and two are associated chief physicians.  All members dedicate themselves to providing high-standard medical service. In addition, there are 15 nurses in the division. The nurses work well with the medical staff to provide comprehensive, standardized nursing service, and achieve high patient satisfaction and high service quality.
　　The rheumatology division has 25 inpatient beds with an annual admission in excess of 1,000 patients per year; the outpatient clinic work load is up to 30,000 per year.  Some of patients are from other cities or provinces, including Hong Kong.

　　【Features and Advantages】

　　Led by Professor Chak Sing Lau (Hong Kong University) and Dr Lijun Zhang, the rheumatology division develops rapidly.  A range of rheumatological and autoimmune diseases are well managed here including a considerable ratio of rare and complex diseases. The division has 5 sub-specialty clinics. They are lupus clinic, gout clinic, vasculitis clinic, spondyloarthritis clinic and xerostomia clinic.
　　The major scope of rheumatology is general rheumatic muscular and auto immune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, systemic scleroderma, mixed connective diseases, inflammatory muscular diseases, Takayasu’s arteritis， Behcet’s diseases, giant cell arteritis, IgA vasculitis, spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatic fever, etc; difficult and crtical immunological and inflammatory diseases including granuloma polyarteritis, eosinophil granuloma vasculitis, microscopic polyarteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease, primary central nervous system vasculitis, eosinophilic faciitis, IgG4 related diseases, anti-MDA5 antibody associated dermatomyositis, antisynthetase syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, lupus crisis, recurrent abortion of unknown etiology, recurrent thrombosis and antiphospholipid syndrome. Patients are given personalized therapy based on standardized regimen according to the International and Chinese Medical Association guidelines and recommendations. The rheumatology group practices precise medicine, utilizing various biologic agents and small molecular targeted therapy in managing difficult cases.

　　【Sub-Specialty Introduction】

　　General rheumatology clinic
　　Supported by the basic immunology, laboratory and other related allied departments in the hospital, the rheumatology division has wide experience in managing rare rheumatological and immune diseases, such as systemic vasculitis, IgG4 related diseases, anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis, antisynthetase syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, lupus crisis, recurrent spontaneous abortion and antiphospholipid syndrome, etc. Active treatment including targeted therapy may be used in difficult cases including difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis/gout/lupus/dermatomyositis/scleroderma/immune mediated thrombocytopenia, connective tissue diseases related interstitial lung disease/pulmonary arterial hypertension, autoimmune hepatitis. The common rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, ankylosing spondylitis, gouty arthritis, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are managed according to approved international and Chinese guidelines. Clinic opening time: 8:30-12:30；14:00-17:30. Monday to Sunday.

　　Gout clinic
　　The clinic is able to provide a ‘one station’ service working in association with ultrasonography, radiology, laboratory and pathology. Nutrition, exercise and rehabilitation advice is given to provide best long term results.  Clinic opening time：08:30-12:30 Monday; 14:00-17:30 Thursday.

　　Lupus clinic
　　Led by Professor Chak Sing Lau, one of the leading experts in lupus in the world, the lupus clinic opened in March 2014. Now Consultant Doctor Lijun Zhang leads the clinic. Dr Zhang qualified from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and was a visiting scholar in Renji Hospital in Shanghai.  She has more than 30 years’ clinical experience.  Other members include two associated consultants, Dr Ling Wu and Jinxian Huang, and a senior doctor, Xiaoyan Huang.  Standardized and precisional therapy are being provided, as well as nutrition advices, lifestyle management and psychiatric support, if necessary. The division also works with obstetrics group to provide special care of pregnant patients. Clinic opening time：08:30-12:30 Thursday.

　　Spondyloarthritis clinic
　　Set up in 2016, the spondyloarthritis clinic is managed by our senior rheumatologists. The scope includes ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease arthritis, etc. The clinic is aimed to provide standardized treatment to spondyloarthritis patients, including lifestyle adjustment, disease monitor and appropriate medication. Clinic opening time： 14:00-17:30 Tuesday.

　　Xerostomia clinic
　　Xerostomia clinic is aimed to screen, make early diagnosis and provide standardized and systematic treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome, and to differentiate other conditions with similar symptoms. Clinic opening time：14:00-17:30 Wednesday.

　　Vasculitis clinic
　　Set up in June 2015, Dr Lijun Zhang is in charge of the vasculitis clinic. She had received her rheumatology master degree from Peking Union Medical College and had visited Pittsburg University as a scholar. The clinic manages different types of vasculitis including Takayasu’s arteritis, giant cell arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Behcet’s disease, Cogan syndrome, ANCA associated vasculitis, IgA vasculitis, microangiopathy, IgG4 related disease, relapsing polychondritis, etc. Clinic opening time：08:30-12:30 Wednesday.