Connective Tissue Disorders

This condition is treated in the Rheumatology clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

Possible diagnoses include SLE, Scleroderma, Myositis, Sjogren's Syndrome

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include in particular:

• History:
  • Onset
  • Pattern of symptoms eg proximal weakness
  • Arthralgia
  • Rash or oedema
  • Sicca symptoms
  • Raynauds
  • Pregnancy history
  • History of thromboses
  • Functional capacity
  • Social history
• Examination findings:
  • Blood pressure
  • Joint swelling/deformity
  • Functional capacity

Refer diagnosed Scleroderma to Scleroderma clinic

Tests

• FBE
• ESR, and CRP
• U&E, eGFr
• LFTs
• C3/C4
• ANA/ENA/ dsDNA binding
• CK (raised in myositis)
• Urinalysis/MSU and urinary ACR

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Rheumatology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

Discussion with Rheumatologist may be of benefit in interim management if simple analgesia and local treatments are ineffective.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Patient information advice is found at Arthritis Australia

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 Acutely ill with systemic symptoms eg renal impairment, dyspnoea, rapidly progressive loss of mobility

🚩 Acute thrombosis

Please discuss with registrar or consultant. We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks.

Urgent referrals (e.g. temporal arteritis, septic arthritis) should be accompanied by a phone call to the Rheumatology Registrar or Consultant for urgent assessment, or patient should be directed to the Emergency Department.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

Significant symptoms and laboratory findings

Routine (Category 3)

Borderline laboratory findings and minor symptoms

Next available appointment

Availability

North

Refer to General Medicine

North West

Refer to General Medicine

South

Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982