Digitalization and disruptive change in rheumatology.

Introduction: Recently, many sectors have seen disruptive changes due to the rapid progress in information and communication technology (ICT). The aim of this systematic literature review was to develop a first understanding of what is known about new ICTs in rheumatology and their disruptive potential.

Methods: PubMed, LIVIVO, and EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) databases were searched for relevant literature.

Mobile App-based documentation of patient-reported outcomes - 3-months results from a proof-of-concept study on modern rheumatology patient management.

Background: Mobile medical applications (Apps) offer innovative solutions for patients' self-monitoring and new patient management opportunities. Prior to routine clinical application feasibility and acceptance of disease surveillance using an App that includes electronic (e) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) warrant evaluation. Therefore, we performed a proof-of-concept study in which rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients used an App (RheumaLive) to document their disease.

An ask-the-expert service on a rheumatology web site: who were the users and what did they look for?

Objective: To analyze the inquiries sent to an online ask-the-rheumatologist service in order to identify the users' needs and requirements.

Methods: The official web site of the German Competence Network Rheumatology (www.rheumanet.

Changing attitudes towards online electronic health records and online patient documentation in rheumatology outpatients.

Objectives: The Internet supports interactive patient assessments, online documentation and access to online electronic health records (EHRs), but little is known about the acceptance of these features and trends in rheumatology patients. Therefore, we studied patients' attitudes and willingness to participate in online patient (self-)documentation.

Methods: We interviewed 153 consecutive outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or spondyloarthritis using a paperbased self-administered questionnaire.

[An example of internet-based quality assurance in rheumatology].

In Germany, patient care and medical progress have become increasingly influenced by quality assurance and quality management and also by a rapid increase in knowledge and information. Thus, modern information management achieves high relevance in medicine, too. The internet provides a fascinating medium with its open architecture and interaction possibilities offering new, trailblazing perspectives.

[Rheumatology online: A survey among the members of the German Rheumatology Society].

Objective: On behalf of the "Systemic Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases Network" comprehensive, nationwide horizontal and vertical cross-linking of research and care is to be developed for the first time. The quality of scientific work and patient care is to be increased in the medium term through this improved communication and co-operation. Our objective was to determine what hardware and software are avail- able to the physicians involved, with a view to the Internet being used as a basis for communication and documentation within the network.

Differential diagnosis of high serum creatine kinase levels in systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report the clinical and bioptic findings for a 57-year-old woman with severe chloroquine-induced myopathy. Since 1989, she had been suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with renal involvement and undergone periods of treatment with azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. Additional therapy with chloroquine (CQ) was started because of arthralgia.