KIMS hosts 14th IRACON-2022 of Odisha chapter
The 14th Annual conference of the Odisha chapter of Indian Rheumatology Association (IRA) was hosted by the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), on December 10 and 11. This organizing secretary and co-organizing secretary for this conference coinciding with the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of KIIT University, were Prof (Dr) Prasanta Padhan and Dr. Debashis Maikap.
Rheumatology is a field that is constantly changing with new dimensions and advances in disease understanding and therapeutics. It is also a field that encompasses the whole of medicine and also involves other branches like Orthopedics, Paediatrics and General Medicine. The theme for this year was “Rheumatology beyond boundaries”, with target audience being not only rheumatologists, but also the other disciplines.
On the Day-1, the programme had an auspicious beginning which was graced by Principal Prof (Dr) Ambika Prasad Mohanty. The scientific sessions for the day kicked off with basic introduction to musculoskeletal disorders by Prof (Dr) Bidyut Das from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.
Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) is one of the most crippling scenarios that a clinician faces and an underlying autoimmune disease is constantly missed. An enlightening talk on how to approach a PUO from the rheumatologist’s perspective was delivered by Dr Debashis Maikap from the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, KIMS.
Half of our population suffers from some type and degree of back pain; but knowing when to suspect a more serious inflammatory condition or malignancy is a difficult task, which was made lucid by Dr. Soumya Ranjan Tripathy from SCBMCH, who highlighted the red flag signs of low back pain.
Rheumatological emergencies need a different outlook and a though process as there is always a dilemma between infection and flare and it takes great clinical experience and astute acumen to manage these conditions. A great insight to this was provided by Prof Prasanta Padhan from KIMS. This was followed by a talk on “crystal arthropathies’’ by Dr Jyoti Ranjan Parida.
The delegates had the fortune to learn the approach to immunological investigations from one of the greatest in the field of immunology and clinical rheumatology, Dr. Ramnath Misra, HoD, KIMS. The X-ray interpretation, DEXA interpretation and the USG workshops followed and were deliberated by noted rheumatologists of the country – Dr. URK Rao, Dr. PD Rath, Dr. Sakir Ahmed, Dr. Rajendra Sahoo (Pain Specialist, KIMS). The first day concluded with a gala dinner and a cultural.
The Day-II started off with the inauguration, which was presided by Dr Bijay Kumar Mishra, President of Odisha chapter of IRA and other office-bearers. The scientific sessions soon followed with an update on management of lupus nephritis by the notable Prof Manish Rathi from PGI Chandigarh. The RN Rath Oration was conferred on Prof Sanjeeb Kakati for his illustrious career and his paramount contribution to rheumatology in the North East.
Glucocorticoids and rheumatology are inseparable. However, what is the optimum time and dose to use them without minimal adverse events? Hence ensued a debate on the need to continue low-dose glucocorticoids indefinitely in rheumatoid arthritis, by Dr. Arghya Chattopadhyay and Dr. Sanat Pathak.
Psychosocial issues are often ignored when dealing with chronic illnesses. An insight to it was given by Dr Jayaprakash Russell Ravan, HoD, Department of Psychiatry, KIMS. The day concluded with oral and poster presentations and quiz for the DM residents.