title: Experiences From a Combined Dermatology and Rheumatology Clinic: A Retrospective Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Dermatology and Rheumatology Treatment Clinic is a novel multidisciplinary clinic where patients are concomitantly assessed by a rheumatologist and dermatologist.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the number of patients seen in clinic, patient demographics, and most common diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed over a 2-year period. Data collected included patient age, sex, dermatologic diagnosis, rheumatologic diagnosis, biopsies performed, and number of follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 320 patients were seen (78% female, 22% male). The most common rheumatologic diagnoses were systemic lupus erythematosus (18%), rheumatoid arthritis (15%), psoriatic arthritis (13%), and undifferentiated connective tissue disease (8%). The most common dermatologic diagnoses were dermatitis (17%), psoriasis (11%), cutaneous lupus (7%), various types of alopecia (6%), and infections (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Skin diagnoses were often unrelated to the underlying rheumatologic diagnosis. Rheumatologists and dermatologists can both benefit from being aware of the dermatologic conditions that rheumatologic patients are experiencing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada michaelsamycia@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samycia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Collette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCourt
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, St Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada Arthritis Research Canada, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Kam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shojania
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, St Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Au
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000505:Alopecia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012219:Rheumatology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dermatology; immunology; inflammatory dermatoses; psoriasis