The new reception means more patients with systemic sclerosis can be screened

– Our patients suffer from systemic diseases that affect many organs. Therefore, many different investigations are often required. It can be difficult to get one at home, so patients come to us from all over the country, says John Einarson, head of the department of rheumatology at the University Hospital Skien, and medically-in charge of the new day-care department that just opened in Lund.

Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which means that the body’s immune system is misdirected against its own tissues. Most commonly, the disease affects the skin, but it can also have serious effects on the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines, and increase mortality.

Stem cell transplantation in systemic sclerosis – Skane University Hospital (skane.se)

Shorter waiting times
In the past, investigations of patients with inconspicuous rheumatic disease in inpatient care have been conducted. But with regard to the start of the epidemic, the investigations have practically stopped temporarily, since there was no place for those patients with chronic but not acute diseases.

– A daycare clinic is essential for this group of patients who have been severely exposed during the pandemic. Now we can receive about ten patients a week. They can stay in the patient’s hotel while they are examined here for two or three days. Availability will be better and waiting times will be shorter. In addition, the medical quality will be better because it is a risk-free environment. Patients don’t need to be hospitalized, which would be dangerous for someone with lung disease, for example, says Jon Einarson.

Patient associations concerned
About 100 people in Sweden develop systemic sclerosis each year, and of these, about 30 suffer from the severe type. It is these patients who may be eligible for a stem cell transplant, a treatment for which Skåne University Hospital has been commissioned together with Karolinska University Hospital by the National Board of Health and Welfare to conduct highly specialized national care within it.

The new rheumatology day care clinic has reception rooms, a patient kitchen and a rest room. Patient associations were involved in the design of the premises, where, for example, the temperature is higher than in other departments, many patients have joint problems and pain.

Liaising with nurses, auxiliary nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, secretaries, counselors and physicians working at reception.

– I look forward to the fact that we can now resume operations after the pandemic, that we can take care of the patient cohort and investigate more patients with non-obvious rheumatic disease, says Jon Einarson.

Fact: Systemic sclerosis

• Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which means that the body’s immune system is misdirected against its own tissues.
• Like other autoimmune diseases, women are affected mainly, about 80 percent.
• Most commonly, the disease affects the skin, but it can also have serious effects on the lungs, heart, kidneys, and intestines, and increase mortality.
• In Sweden, at least 2,000 people probably suffer from systemic sclerosis.
• About 100 fall ill with the disease each year, and of those, about 30 have the severe form. Patients with the severe variant may be eligible for stem cell transplantation.