Med. praxi. 2026;23(4):228-234 | DOI: 10.36290/med.2026.032

Patient with rheumatic disease in primary care

MUDr. Jana Tomasová Studýnková, Ph.D.

Revmatologický ústav, Praha a Revmatologická klinika 1. LF UK v Praze

Musculoskeletal symptoms are among the most common problems encountered in general practice. Although most cases are of mechanical origin, a significant proportion of patients have inflammatory rheumatic or systemic autoimmune diseases, in which early diagnosis has a major impact on prognosis. The role of the general practitioner is to recognize features suggestive of an inflammatory etiology and to initiate an appropriate diagnostic work-up. The cornerstone of differential diagnosis is the distinction between mechanical and inflammatory causes of symptoms based on medical history, physical examination, and appropriately indicated laboratory and imaging investigations. Early recognition of rheumatic disease relies particularly on clinical features such as morning stiffness lasting > 30 minutes, pain at rest or during the night, joint swelling, and extra-articular manifestations, which may precede abnormalities in laboratory and imaging findings. In primary care, early suspicion and prompt referral to a rheumatologist are crucial. Only early therapeutic intervention within the so-called "window of opportunity" can prevent irreversible damage and significantly improve long-term prognosis and patients' quality of life.

Keywords: patient with rheumatic disease in primary care, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, systemic autoimmune diseases, early diagnosis, differential diagnosis.

Received: June 26, 2026; Revised: August 11, 2026; Accepted: August 12, 2026; Published: October 14, 2026  Show citation