Rheumatological emergencies

Abstract This chapter covers commonly encountered rheumatological emergencies, including septic arthritis (for both adults and paediatrics), infections in patients taking biologic therapy, acute systemic lupus erythematosus (including a flow diagram of the management of renal systemic lupus erythematosus), systemic vasculitis, systemic sclerosis-related crises, methotrexate-induced pneumonitis, macrophage activation syndrome, and paediatric osteomyelitis, and their management. Malignancies presenting with musculoskeletal symptoms in children are also covered. Several of these topics are covered in more detail in other chapters of this handbook, particularly Chapter 17 on infection and rheumatic disease, with links provided from this chapter as appropriate.