A definition of patient education is provided in this module, along with an overview of four major pedagogical models used in this area. Various modes of communication (verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal) are reviewed, and principles of active listening are elaborated alongside the person-centred approach. 

1. Strategy in patient management
2. Patient education and lifestyle advice
3. Rehabilitation (including hands)
4. Management of systemic sclerosis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
5. Vasodilators
6. Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

This module covers: current unmet needs in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); the general concept of treat-to-target (T2T) in SLE and in other rheumatic conditions; targeted therapies in SLE; and the concepts of remission and low disease activity in SLE. 

This module will describe and explain the physiology of bone (bone formation, bone resorption) and bone modelling and remodelling, as well as the consequences of osteoporotic fractures: mortality, morbidity and risk for subsequent fractures.

1. Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, evaluation of laboratory tests
2. Localised scleroderma
3. Epidemiology
4. Activity
5. The natural history of systemic sclerosis and assessment of disease severity and damage

1. Synthesis early and late pathological events in scleroderma
2. Vascular disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc)
3. Synthesis Fibrosis in systemic sclerosis
4. Autoantibodies, autoimmunity
5. The genetics of systemic sclerosis

1. Skin involvement
2. Raynauds phenomenon
3. Microvascular and macrovascular disease in sytemic sclerosis

1. Clinical consequences of functional and pathological changes
2. Diastolic dysfunction
3. Arrhythmia, conduction abnormalities
4. Microvascular involvement in primary scleroderma myocardial disease
5. Pericarditis in systemic sclerosis

1. Pulmonary interstitial vascular involvement: interstitial lung disease associated with systemic sclerosis
2. Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with scleroderma

Covers how to identify systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients at risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Explains why regular screening for PAH is needed in SSc, and how to use the most effective screening tools to detect PAH.

1. The gastrointestinal tract in systemic sclerosis
2. Small intestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis
3. Colonic and anal involvement in systemic sclerosis

1. Joint involvement, synovitis
2. Muscle involvement in systemic sclerosis and scleroderma–myositis overlap syndromes
3. Hand function in systemic sclerosis
4. Quality of life and functional disability
5. Pain and fatigue

1. Adult Still's
2. Sarcoidosis
3. Palindromic

This module covers: the epidemiology and clinical presentation of lupus nephritis; current concepts of disease pathogenesis and histologic classification; treatment guidelines and outcomes. Clinical trial data for lupus nephritis are also summarized. 

1. Life-threatening conditions: emergencies in scleroderma
2. Pregnancy and gynaecological problems in systemic sclerosis
3. Very early and early systemic sclerosis

This introductory module addresses systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in terms of its incidence and prevalence. It discusses factors implicated in its pathogenesis, including environmental factors and drug-induced lupus. Important differences between adult onset SLE and juvenile SLE, characteristics of late-onset SLE, the bimodal pattern of mortality and the impact of genetic factors are also covered. 

This module covers: main actors of innate and adaptive immunity and their abnormalities in SLE; the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors and their interplay with innate and adaptive immunity in SLE; pleiotropic functions of type I interferon and its crucial role in initiation and perpetuation the inflammation in SLE; and genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk factors in SLE. 

The complexity of SLE presents major challenges when trying to agree disease activity and damage indices and an acceptable quality of life index. A substantial amount of work has been undertaken to devise both global score indices (e.g. the SLEDAI and ECLAM index) and the system-based BILAG index (based on the principle of the physician’s intention to treat). Only one damage index has ever been developed for lupus – the SLICC-ACR index. However, non-specific quality of life indices and lupus-specific indices are widely used to study the disease. 

This module addresses the epidemiological profile of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), as well as clinical and biological presentations of NPSLE, main peripheral syndromes of NPSLE, and how neuropsychiatric manifestations can be attributed to SLE. It covers the importance and limits of classical and advanced imaging techniques for NPSLE diagnosis and management, and appropriate management of NPSLE, depending on presentation. 

Provides an overview of the pathogenic mechanisms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related musculoskeletal, hematological, lung, ocular, and gastrointestinal manifestations, with discussion of clinical presentation and laboratory characteristics. Complications of these manifestations are also considered, along with outcomes and management. 

Historical and epidemiological profiles of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and its catastrophic variant are explored. Pathogenic mechanisms of the antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are discussed, including inhibition of anticoagulant reactions, cell-mediated events, monocytes and complement. Clinical presentation, laboratory characteristics, classification criteria, therapeutic approaches and outcomes of APS are also included. 

The interaction of pregnancy with systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is explored. Specific maternal and fetal problems in SLE pregnancy are covered, along with subgroups of patients with particular implications, the use of anti-rheumatic drugs during pregnancy and lactation, and the importance of multidisciplinary management of pregnant SLE patients. 

This chapter describes the last insights about cell and gene therapy in rheumatic diseases, from the basis of the techniques to their potential application in clinical practice.

The main topics are:

-The application of mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in rheumatic diseases;

-The latest advances in gene therapy in rheumatic diseases;

-The potential applications of the technology of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the cure of rheumatic diseases.

• Conventional radiographs in RA - Basic Principles
• Recognising typical rheumatoid arthritis pathology using conventional radiography

• Basic concepts of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Rheumatology
• Recognizing typical RA pathology using MRI

The aim of this module is to introduce the learner to collaborative research, to help them become aware of the value of their own experiential knowledge and expertise in the context of rheumatology research, and to show how patient research partners can provide their unique perspective to scientific projects.

This module covers the basic concepts of epidemiology. Learners will: become familiar with the empirical research cycle; understand how to differentiate between different types of health research; learn how to interpret the validity of data using the pyramid of evidence; and learn to recognise the meaning of different types of tables and graphs. 

The learner will obtain insights into the most commonly used outcome measures in rheumatology. The learner will also become able to contribute confidently the patient perspective to the development, validation and selection of relevant outcomes in clinical research.

The learner will obtain the basic skills to search, understand and critically appraise a scientific paper.