Integrative Rheumatology Care in Shanghai
The Department of Rheumatology at Longhua Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine — is one of China's leading centers for the integrative management of autoimmune and inflammatory joint diseases. Combining the immunological precision of modern rheumatology with the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating power of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the department offers a uniquely comprehensive approach to conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, and gout — addressing both disease control and the patient's overall wellbeing.
For international patients seeking rheumatology care that integrates the best of both worlds — biologic therapies and targeted synthetic DMARDs alongside individualized TCM — Longhua Hospital's rheumatology department is one of the most compelling options in Asia. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end support for international patients throughout their treatment journey.
About the Department
Longhua Hospital's rheumatology department is a national key TCM clinical specialty with decades of experience in the integrative management of rheumatic diseases. The department operates dedicated inpatient wards, subspecialty outpatient clinics for rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, connective tissue disease, and gout, as well as a dedicated TCM treatment center offering herbal medicine, acupuncture, and external therapies.
The department's research program has produced a substantial body of evidence supporting the use of specific TCM herbal formulas in rheumatic disease — including studies demonstrating anti-inflammatory, cartilage-protective, and immune-modulating effects of key compounds. Faculty members publish regularly in leading rheumatology and integrative medicine journals including Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Arthritis & Rheumatology, and Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Conditions Treated
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) — Comprehensive management from early to advanced disease; conventional DMARDs (methotrexate, leflunomide), biologic agents (TNF inhibitors, IL-6 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors), and individualized TCM herbal therapy
- Ankylosing Spondylitis & Axial Spondyloarthropathy — NSAIDs, biologic therapy (TNF inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors), and TCM for pain management and spinal mobility preservation
- Psoriatic Arthritis — Integrated management of joint and skin disease; biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs; TCM herbal and external therapies
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) — Hydroxychloroquine, immunosuppression, belimumab; TCM to reduce flare frequency and manage fatigue and organ protection
- Lupus Nephritis — Multidisciplinary management with nephrology; TCM renoprotective herbal therapy
- Sjögren's Syndrome — Symptom management for sicca syndrome; TCM yin-nourishing herbal therapy for dryness
- Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) — Organ-based management; TCM for skin fibrosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, and gastrointestinal involvement
- Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis — Corticosteroids and immunosuppression; TCM muscle-strengthening and anti-inflammatory protocols
- Vasculitis — ANCA-associated vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, and Behçet's disease; TCM adjunctive therapy
- Gout & Hyperuricemia — Urate-lowering therapy; TCM herbal medicine with evidence for uric acid reduction and renal protection
- Osteoarthritis — TCM herbal medicine, acupuncture, and external therapies for pain and functional improvement
- Fibromyalgia — Acupuncture, mind-body therapy, and TCM for pain sensitization and sleep disturbance
- Reactive Arthritis & Undifferentiated Arthritis — Diagnosis and management of early inflammatory arthritis
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome — Anticoagulation management and TCM blood-activating therapy
The Integrative Rheumatology Approach
Modern Rheumatology: Precision Disease Control
Longhua's rheumatology team is fully versed in the latest international guidelines (ACR, EULAR) and has access to the complete range of approved biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs for inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue disease:
- Conventional DMARDs — Methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, azathioprine, mycophenolate
- Biologic DMARDs — TNF inhibitors (adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab), IL-6 inhibitors (tocilizumab), IL-17 inhibitors (secukinumab, ixekizumab), IL-23 inhibitors, B-cell depletion (rituximab), T-cell co-stimulation blockade (abatacept), BLyS inhibition (belimumab)
- Targeted Synthetic DMARDs (JAK inhibitors) — Tofacitinib, baricitinib, upadacitinib for RA and spondyloarthropathy
- Urate-Lowering Therapy — Allopurinol, febuxostat, and benzbromarone for gout management
TCM: Complementing and Enhancing Modern Treatment
TCM plays several distinct and evidence-supported roles in Longhua's rheumatology program:
Herbal Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: Longhua's rheumatology team has developed and validated specific herbal formulas for rheumatic diseases, including formulas based on traditional anti-rheumatic herbs such as Lei Gong Teng (Tripterygium wilfordii), Du Huo, Qin Jiao, and Wei Ling Xian. Clinical research has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, cartilage-protective, and immunomodulatory effects for these compounds, with some studies showing efficacy comparable to low-dose DMARDs for mild-to-moderate RA.
Reducing Biologic Side Effects: TCM herbal therapy is used to manage the side effects of long-term immunosuppressive treatment, including infection susceptibility, gastrointestinal intolerance, and liver toxicity — improving treatment tolerability and adherence.
Bridging Therapy: During periods when biologic therapy must be interrupted (surgery, infection, pregnancy planning), TCM provides a safe and effective bridging strategy to maintain disease control and prevent flares.
Symptom Management: Acupuncture and external TCM therapies (herbal soaks, plasters, moxibustion) provide effective pain relief and functional improvement for joint symptoms, complementing systemic disease-modifying treatment.
External TCM Therapies
- Herbal Soaks & Fumigation — Warm herbal soaks for hand and foot joint inflammation, stiffness, and Raynaud's phenomenon
- TCM Plasters & Poultices — Topical herbal preparations for joint pain, swelling, and soft tissue inflammation
- Acupuncture & Electroacupuncture — For joint pain, muscle spasm, and systemic symptom management
- Moxibustion — Warming therapy for cold-pattern arthritis and yang-deficiency constitutions
- Cupping Therapy — For muscle tension, fibromyalgia, and systemic fatigue
Why International Patients Choose Longhua Rheumatology
- Unique Integrative Expertise — Full access to modern biologic and targeted therapies combined with evidence-based TCM — an approach unavailable at conventional rheumatology centers
- TCM Research Leadership — Decades of clinical research validating specific herbal formulas for RA, AS, SLE, and gout
- Reduced Side Effect Burden — TCM strategies to improve tolerability of long-term immunosuppressive therapy
- Holistic Disease Management — Addressing not just joint inflammation but fatigue, sleep, mood, and overall quality of life
- National Key Specialty — Recognized by China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Cost-Effectiveness — World-class integrative rheumatology care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries
The CMCS Patient Journey
- Initial Inquiry — Share your rheumatology history, blood test results (RF, anti-CCP, ANA, ANCA, uric acid), imaging, and current medications with CMCS.
- Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
- Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate rheumatologist based on your specific condition.
- Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation with minimal waiting time.
- Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Longhua Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
- On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout your hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication.
- Treatment Coordination — Full coordination of laboratory testing, imaging, herbal prescription dispensing, acupuncture sessions, and biologic infusion scheduling.
- Post-Treatment Follow-Up — Lab result translation, treatment plan interpretation, herbal prescription renewal, and remote follow-up after you return home.
Book a Consultation
If you are seeking expert integrative rheumatology care in Shanghai — whether for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, lupus, gout, or another autoimmune condition — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Longhua Hospital's rheumatology team.
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