[RHEUMATOLOGY - TIME FOR CHANGES].

Significant progress has been made in the field of rheumatology in recent years: creative and technological progress in immunology and genome studies have led to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases and subsequent development of biologic medicines possessing powerful anti-inflammatory efficacy and the ability to shut down the disease-related damage to the cartilage and bone. New methods of diagnostics of rheumatic disorders, both laboratory and imaging, have emerged in order to allow earlier recognition of diseases. The initiatives on the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases in the preclinical stage have been formulated and received much attention recently. Of no doubt, the enthusiasm and energy of rheumatologists and laboratory researchers all over the world have served as a cornerstone for this fascinating progress in a single field. The current issue of Harefuah presents a spectrum of studies in the field of Rheumatology performed by Israeli physicians and researchers.