day 10th Pan Arab Rheumatology Conference, beginning here Monday, aims to familiarize consultants and specialists with the latest developments in rheumatoid diseases and to allow them to exchange ideas and expertise. Dr. Hussain Halabi, Chairman of the conference's organizing committee, said it would be an important element in the battle against rheumatology. The conference, hosted by the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, will be attended by over 500 participants from the Arab world, Europe and North America. “Modern science has not yet been able to discover the real causes of rheumatoid diseases, a fact which sometimes makes it difficult to diagnose the disease accurately or early. Rheumatoid diseases take different forms and clinical symptoms can sometimes be confusing,” he said. According to global estimates, one in 1,000 persons suffers from some form of rheumatism. This means that as many as 250,000 people suffer from the disease in the Kingdom, many of them unaware of the negative effects of the disease. Incorrect diagnosis also exacerbates the problem as rheumatism needs the attention of specialist doctors. “Early detection and treatment is advisable for those who want to lead a healthy life,” Dr. Halabi said. Conference participants will be treated to 40 lectures presented by international experts. They will also discuss 80 papers on the effects and treatment of several challenging types of rheumatoid diseases. These include rheumatoid arthritis, Lupus Erythematosus, necrosis, osteoarthritis, non-articular rheumatism, rheumatic fever, osteoporosis and child rheumatoid diseases. “Several workshops will be held on the latest developments in rheumatology to provide patients with treatment similar to that in the developed world enabling them to lead a normal life free from any pain or disability,” Dr. Halabi said. __
