Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis can make every move you make more difficult. At Allegheny Health Network (AHN), our specialists have a deep understanding about how this condition impacts your health and quality of life. This knowledge helps us provide you a precise diagnosis so you can get relief fast.

Our rheumatologists provide complete diagnostic and treatment services at several outpatient offices across western Pennsylvania. You can also get care at our Autoimmunity Institute, located at West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield. Our institute makes it easier for you to address multiple health concerns in a single visit. The result? An unmatched level of comprehensive care.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease happens when your immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissue.

Rheumatologists often care for people with rheumatoid arthritis. These specialists are physicians who receive special training to diagnose and treat complex autoimmune conditions affecting your body’s bones, muscles, and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. It can cause different levels of joint pain and stiffness in your legs, arms, hands, or in any combination of joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect internal organs, such as the kidneys or lungs. For some people, symptoms slowly get worse over time. Other people experience most of their symptoms in short or long bursts (called flares).

Our rheumatoid arthritis center of excellence

At AHN, we help you manage every way rheumatoid arthritis affects your health and life. Our team of specialists has spent many years caring for patients with different types of rheumatoid arthritis. This experience helps us get you the right diagnosis — the first step to finding relief.

Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis

To diagnose you, we use a specialized blood test that identifies certain DNA sequences (called genetic biomarkers) for rheumatoid arthritis. We use experience and innovations like this test to provide you with the right diagnosis, even if your symptoms are unusual.

Treating rheumatoid

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, our physicians provide a treatment plan that helps you manage your symptoms. This treatment plan may include:

• Physical or occupational therapy to help you move or complete daily activities with less discomfort
• Medications or infusion therapies to relieve painful or uncomfortable symptoms

A new approach to rheumatoid arthritis care

At the Autoimmunity Institute, we’re showing the world what autoimmune disease care should look like. We offer:

• Team of experienced providers — from 15 different specialties — who work together to address every aspect of your health in one place
• Coordinated care that puts tasks like tracking your medical records on our to-do list (and off yours)
• Updated facility that includes our unique “Huddle Hall,” which makes it easier for your specialists to discuss your care
• Convenience from seeing different specialists in fewer visits
• Leading treatment options at an on-site infusion suite, making it easier to get treatments
• Support from our behavioral health providers to help you cope with the emotional impacts of autoimmune disease
• Focus on research, where our specialists continually push for more effective treatments and an eventual cure for rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmunity Institute:
West Penn Hospital
4815 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Located in 250 Mellon Pavilion

Get directions

Contact us

Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 to learn more about AHN autoimmune services.