Inflammatory rheumatologic disorders in the elderly. Unusual presentations, altered outlooks.

Overview

Comorbidities, metabolic alterations, immunosenescence, and use of drugs may affect the manifestation, clinical course, immunopathogenesis, and prognosis of inflammatory rheumatologic disease in older persons. These factors need to be considered in evaluation and treatment in the geriatric population. In this article, Drs Belostocki and Paget discuss rheumatologic disorders that typically occur in advanced age, as well as those that characteristically occur in younger patients but may present de novo in the elderly.