In brief

• Prof. Brygida Kwiatkowska warns that in some places in Poland, patients with rheumatic diseases practically receive no treatment.
• The lack of effective therapy for inflammatory rheumatic diseases may lead to polyautoimmunization and comorbidity.
• The standard is early treatment with prescription drugs, and if they prove ineffective, drug programs.

Threats to patients

A specialist from the National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation warns that the lack of effective treatment for inflammatory rheumatic diseases leads to two worrying phenomena (Choroby reumatyczne – wielu pacjentów nie otrzymuje leczenia – GazetaPrawna.pl). The first is polyautoimmunization: further autoimmune diseases appear in the patient when the first one is poorly treated. The second is comorbidity, which is the result of untreated inflammation.

Standard of treatment

As Prof. Kwiatkowska explained, the standard is early and rapid initiation of treatment with drugs dispensed on prescription. If they prove ineffective, drugs available within drug programs, which she describes as modern, are used.

Access problem

A representative of the institute speaks of financial difficulties and limited access to treatment, which in practice affect some patients. For people living with these conditions, this means that timely diagnosis and starting therapy at a rheumatology clinic are crucial, and in case of refusal or long waiting times it is worth seeking help at another center.