OVERVIEW

The Integrated Course of Dermatology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology aims to address the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic insights of the main diseases related to these three medical branches. Some lessons will be delivered in a multidisciplinary format, since several conditions share clinical features across the three disciplines.
Lectures will cover and explore only a portion of the clinical topics, as a complete discussion of all diseases is not feasible within the allocated teaching hours. However, exam topics will include all diseases within the fields of Dermatology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology.
Lectures will be held in-person and will include both the discussion of diseases and the presentation of clinical cases to be discussed interactively.

The exam will be oral.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Cognitive understanding of the main dermatological, immunological, and rheumatological diseases. The student should be able to recognize the pathophysiological bases, morphological alterations, and clinical manifestations of the main diseases and their complications. Additionally, the student should be able to determine a diagnostic process and prognosis.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Integrated Course of Dermatology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology addresses the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic insights of major diseases in these fields. The student will be able to recognize the pathophysiological bases, morphological changes, and clinical manifestations of the main diseases and their complications and establish a diagnostic pathway and prognosis.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of the basics of immunology, immunoinflammation, and human anatomy

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons are held in-person, with optional tutorial sessions at the bedside or in outpatient clinics involving clinical case discussions.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), disabilities, or other educational needs are invited to contact the professor and the school's/department's disability coordinator at the beginning of the course to arrange suitable teaching methods that respect the course objectives while accommodating individual learning styles.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Immunology Topics

• Approach to patients with allergic or immunological disorders
• Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies
• Autoimmunity and autoantibodies
• Organ-specific autoimmune diseases
• Allergic diseases (asthma, rhinitis)
• Urticaria and angioedema
• Hypersensitivity reactions and anaphylaxis
• Food, insect sting, and drug allergies
• Mastocytosis

Recommended textbook: Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Libreria Universo, 2021.

Rheumatology Topics

• Approach to patients with rheumatologic diseases: physical examination, rheumatologic semiotics, and inflammatory markers
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis and spondyloarthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Reactive arthritis, Lyme disease, Acute rheumatic fever, Enteropathic arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Primary and secondary Raynaud's phenomenon
• Connective tissue diseases: (Systemic lupus erythematosus, Systemic sclerosis, Mixed connective tissue disease, Overlap syndromes, Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis)
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Vasculitis
• Crystal-induced and metabolic arthropathies
• Osteoarthritis
• Soft tissue and extra-articular diseases
• Fibromyalgia
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, bone and extra-bone roles of vitamin D
• Paget’s disease of bone
• Hereditary connective tissue diseases
• Nerve compression syndromes
• Synovial fluid examination
• Imaging techniques in rheumatology

Recommended textbook: UNIREUMA. Rheumatology for Students and General Practitioners, Ed. Gnocchi 2021.

Dermatology Topics

• Primary skin lesions
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Lichen planus
• Urticaria
• Drug-induced skin reactions
• Photodermatitis
• Cutaneous mycoses
• Parasitic infestations and scabies
• Protozoan diseases
• Bacterial skin diseases
• Syphilis
• Dermatomyositis
• Lupus
• Scleroderma/Morphea
• Autoimmune bullous diseases
• Actinic keratosis
• Basal and squamous cell carcinomas
• Melanoma

Reference textbook: Manual of Medical and Surgical Dermatology, 6th edition, ISBN 8838639930 - 9788838639937, by Tullio Cainelli, Alberto Giannetti, Alfredo Rebora. © 2016 | Publication Date: June 9, 2016.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, McGra-Hill Education 2022. 

UNIREUMA. Rheumatology for Students and General Practitioners, Ed. Gnocchi 2021.

Manual of Medical and Surgical Dermatology, 6th edition, ISBN 8838639930 - 9788838639937, by Tullio Cainelli, Alberto Giannetti, Alfredo Rebora. © 2016 | Publication Date: June 9, 2016.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

See the academic calendar on the EasyAcademy portal

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam is a single oral exam covering the entire integrated course. It consists of questions on the topics covered in the disciplines included into the integrated teaching. The purpose is to assess the student’s understanding of the course/module objectives. The final grade is expressed out of 30, with honors possible. The exam is considered passed if the grade is at least 18/30.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Student learning is assessed solely through the final exam, which aims to verify the achievement of the expected learning outcomes.