Rheumatology

 

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology at Phoenix Children's Hospital offers the best comprehensive, pediatric-specific care in Arizona and the Southwest region.

 

According to the Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, there are 7,000 children in Arizona with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.

 

Left untreated or under-treated, rheumatic diseases can cause disability in childhood and negatively affect a child's growth and development.

 

Treatment from a pediatric-trained rheumatologist gives kids the best chance because rheumatic diseases behave differently in a child's body than an adult's. And our staff only work with children, in a kid-friendly, medical home.  

 

In 2006, Phoenix Children's hired Michael Shishov, MD, MPH, to develop an in-house pediatric rheumatology program at the Hospital.  The program has grown to include a second pediatric-trained rheumatologist, Kaleo Ede, MD, and a pediatric nurse practitioner, Debra Carlin, PNP. A group of dedicated nurses, social workers and nutritionists complete the division's talented team of medical professionals. This multidisciplinary approach to treating children and families results in highly effective family-focused care.

 

The Division of Pediatric Rheumatology offers unique programs including a monthly Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic. Children with systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic vasculitis, and who have kidney disease, can see their pediatric rheumatologist and nephrologist during the same visit.

 

The division is also involved in clinical research studies to further advance the field.

 

Physicians

Michael Shishov, MD, MPH, Medical Staff Section Chief

 

Kaleo Ede, MD

 

Debra Carlin, PNP

 

Common Diagnoses Seen

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis/Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

• Polyarticular JRA/JIA
• Oligoarticular JRA/JIA
• Systemic JRA/JIA (Still’s disease)

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE, Lupus)

Juvenile Dermatomyositis

Juvenile Ankylosing Spondylitis (JAS, Spondyloarthropathy)

Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis

Hypermobility Syndromes

Benign pain syndromes (including growing pains and fibromyalgia)

Rheumatic Fever/Poststreptococcal arthritis

Reactive Arthritis

Scleroderma/Morphea

Sarcoidosis

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Fever of unknown origin

Recurrent fevers (Periodic Fever Syndromes)

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP)

Kawasaki Disease

Lyme Disease

Raynaud's disease/phenomenon

Vasculitis

Uveitis (Iridocyclitis)

 

Programs and Services

Infusions (Remicade, IVIG, Solumedrol, Cytoxan, Rituxan, Orencia)

Subcutaneous injection teaching

Nutritionist

Joint injection

Social Work

 

Related health information:

Arthritis overview - from The Emily Center Family Health Library

Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation

 

Contact us:

(602) 546-0909