New textbook in rheumatology: A Norwegian contribution to medical education

The Norwegian rheumatology community is at the forefront of research and treatment worldwide. In the new textbook, Rheumatology, 77 experts from 17 different disciplines share their insights. The book is a comprehensive resource on inflammatory rheumatic diseases, developed for medical students, but also valuable for other healthcare professionals.

The textbook, Rheumatology, is available from August 29, 2024.

Rheumatology, a rapidly developing field

It has been 11 years since the last Norwegian textbook in rheumatology was published. Since then, the subject has undergone rapid development, and the need for a comprehensive overview of the latest knowledge has increased. The new textbook offers updated knowledge that reflects current practice, well-established in the Norwegian professional community. The content has been carefully quality-assured by 74 co-authors from all of the country's health regions, which gives the work a broad and solid professional basis.

Three main authors

The main authors behind the textbook, Jens Vikse (associate professor, University of Stavanger), Espen A. Haavardsholm (professor, University of Oslo) and Øyvind Molberg (professor, University of Oslo), are all engaged in teaching related to the professional study of medicine, as well as for doctors specializing in rheumatology.

A comprehensive, educational textbook

With its 400 pages, richly illustrated with photographs, X-rays and drawings, the book offers an in-depth understanding of rheumatic diseases. It explains how these diseases can affect different parts of the body, such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, kidneys and nervous system. The authors have emphasized making the material easily accessible, so that readers can easily understand how these diseases develop and affect the body.

- We are proud to offer this book as a valuable tool for medical students and healthcare professionals. Like all other disciplines, we must ensure that we recruit future colleagues to our profession. Our goal is for the book to make the profession more visible, accessible and understandable, and inspire more people to delve into rheumatology, says Jens Vikse, one of the lead authors.  

He explains that updated Norwegian-language textbooks are important, as they reflect Norwegian treatment practices and preserve the Norwegian professional language.

Students learn best in their native language

Professors Molberg and Haavardsholm teach at the medical school at the University of Oslo. They both experience that many students learn best from texts written in Norwegian. They agree that it has been rewarding to contribute to an updated, comprehensive Norwegian rheumatology resource for future healthcare professionals.

Digital resources

Rheumatology is part of a larger learning project, which also includes a podcast, https://shows.acast.com/revmatologi and future instructional videos. They will be available on the website revmabok.no.

For further information or questions, please contact Jens Vikse at This email address is protected from programs that collect email addresses. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About the book

• Pages: 400
• Language: Bokmål/Nynorsk
• ISBN: 9788215068589
• Release date: 29.08.2024

More about the book: https://www.universitetsforlaget.no/laerebok-i-revmatologi

The main authors

Jens Vikse

Physician specializing in rheumatology at Stavanger University Hospital. Doctoral fellow at the University of Bergen. Associate professor and subject manager for immunology at the University of Stavanger. Vikse runs the podcast “Rheumatology”, which is supplementary material to this textbook. He has also written the textbook “IMMU: Textbook in rheumatology”, and for more information, see immu.no. Vikse holds a number of national and international positions. He is head of LIS in rheumatology, Norwegian representative in the European Association of Young Physicians in Rheumatology (EMEUNET) and head of young researchers in the EULAR study group on lung involvement in rheumatic diseases .

Espen A. Haavardsholm

Professor/Head of Department at the University of Oslo (UiO), Head of Research/Senior Physician in Rheumatology at Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Center Director of the Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY). Haavardsholm has been involved in teaching at many levels, including bachelor's and master's levels, specialist courses in rheumatology, the professional study in medicine and as a supervisor of a number of PhD candidates. In his scientific career, Haavardsholm has particularly focused on multicenter studies in treatment strategies for rheumatic diseases, with publications in, among others, BMJ, The Lancet and JAMA. He is currently President of the Scandinavian Society of Rheumatology and a board member of the Norwegian Rheumatological Society.

Oyvind Molberg

Professor at the University of Oslo (UiO) and consultant in rheumatology at Oslo University Hospital (OUS). Involved in education at all levels, with responsibility for rheumatology teaching at the medical school at UiO, leadership of courses for the specialty in rheumatology and supervision of students and a dozen PhD candidates. Many years of experience as a leader, both at OUS and UiO. Scientific background from human immunology, but from 2010 led and further developed OUS's rheumatology research, with major investments in clinically oriented projects, and with status as a partner in REMEDY. Molberg has overall responsibility for the section's three major research groups, all of which are mainly externally funded.

The co-authors

Trond Mogens Aaløkken

• Senior Consultant, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 4. Imaging studies 9. Pulmonary manifestations in rheumatic disease

Anna Birgitte Aga

• Chief Physician and Senior Researcher, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 17. Rheumatoid arthritis 51. Pediatric rheumatology

Helena Andersson

• Head of Section and Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 27. Connective tissue diseases: an overview 31. Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Marianne Angelshaug

• Senior Consultant, Rheumatology Department, Martina Hansens Hospital
• Chapters: 46. Relapsing polychondritis

Lucius I. Bader

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital
• Chapters: 5. Immunosuppressive therapy 8. Joint pain 38. IgA vasculitis

Gunnstein Bakland

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Northern Norway
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway
• Chapters: 18. Spondyloarthritis: an overview 19. Axial spondyloarthritis

Livia Bajelan

• Senior Physician, Section for Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF
• Chapters: 3. Laboratory investigations

Inger Jorid Berg

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Postdoctoral fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 19. Axial spondyloarthritis

Helle Bitter

• Senior Consultant, Rheumatology Department, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand
• Chapters:
  1. Rheumatology: an overview

Tove Tveitan Borgen

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Vestre Viken HF, Drammen Hospital
• Chapters: 7. Comorbidity

Ida K. Bos-Haugen

• Specialist, Rheumatology Clinic, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 26. Osteoarthritis

Lene Kristin Brekke

• Senior Consultant and Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Rheumatology, Haugesund Health Association's Rheumatism Hospital
• Chapters: 34. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Kaspar Broch

• Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 10. Heart infections in rheumatic disease

Ellen Elisabeth Brodin

• Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Department of Blood Diseases, Akershus University Hospital
• Chapters: 44. Antiphospholipid syndrome

Kristine Bo

• Senior Consultant, Section for Skin Diseases, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 13. Skin manifestations

Pernille Bøyesen

• Senior Consultant and Postdoctoral Fellow, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 48. Autoinflammatory diseases

Asad Ali Chaudhary

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 39. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis 40. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis

Asbjorn Christophersen

• Specialist, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 2. Immunology: an overview

Howard Dale

• Section Chief Physician, Section for Orthopaedic Infections, Orthopaedic Department, Haukeland University Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Department 1, University of Bergen
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Andreas Diamantopoulos

• Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Akershus University Hospital
• Chapters: 4. Imaging studies 34. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Phuong Phuong Diep

• Specialist in Pulmonary Medicine, Pulmonary Department, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• PhD Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 9. Pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic disease

Jon Roger Eidet

• Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology Department, Oslo University Hospital HF, Ullevål Hospital
• Chapters: 14. Eye manifestations in rheumatic disease

Karen Minde Fagerli

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Postdoctoral fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 18. Spondyloarthritis: an overview 20. Psoriatic arthritis

Bjørg-Tilde Svanes Fevang

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Department 2, University of Bergen
• Chapters:
  1. Rheumatology: an overview
  2. Arthritic diseases: an overview
  3. Rheumatoid arthritis

Bente Fjeld

• Senior Consultant, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital HF
• PhD Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 3. Laboratory investigations

Berit Flatø

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 51. Pediatric Rheumatology

Havard Fretheim

• Specialist, Department of Rheumatology, Lillehammer Rheumatology Hospital

Guro Løvik Goll

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health and Society, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 2. Immunology: an overview 3. Immunosuppressive therapy

Birgir Gudbrandsson

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 35. Takayasu's arteritis

Einar Gude

• Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 10. Heart infections in rheumatic disease

Ragnar Gunnarsson

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 32. Mixed connective tissue disease 37. ANCA-associated vasculitides 39. Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis 40. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis

Erik Haavardsholm

• Senior Consultant, Radiology Department, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 4. Imaging studies

Hilde Berner Hammer

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 4. Imaging studies 8. Joint pain 22. Crystal arthritides: an overview 23. Gout 24. Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis

Glenn Haugeberg

• Head of Section and Senior Consultant, Rheumatology Section, Sørlandet Hospital HF, Kristiansand
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU
• Chapters:
  1. Rheumatology: an overview

Marte Schrumpf Heiberg

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 49. Rheumatology and malignancy

Siri Opsahl Hetlevik

• Senior Consultant and Postdoctoral Fellow, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 32. Mixed connective tissue disease

Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold

• Chief Physician and Senior Researcher, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Head of Translational Research, Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
• Chapters: 9. Pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic disease 30. Systemic sclerosis

Christian Hoili

• Senior Consultant, Rheumatology Department, Østfold HF Hospital, Moss
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Eirik Ikdahl

• Specialist, Rheumatology Clinic, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Postdoctoral fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 7. Comorbidity

Karen Agnete Irgens

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Ålesund Hospital
• Chapters: 47. Eosinophilic fasciitis

Trond Geir Jenssen

• Senior Consultant, Department of Renal Medicine, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 11. Renal manifestations in rheumatic disease

Lars F. Karoliussen

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Karin Kilian

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Clinical Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 37. ANCA-associated vasculitides

 Ingvild Kjeken

• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Health Technology, OsloMet
• Chapters: 6. Non-drug treatment

Emily Langballe

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• PhD Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 9. Pulmonary manifestations of rheumatic disease

Karoline Lerang

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 28. Systemic lupus erythematosus

Vibke Lilleby

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 48. Autoinflammatory diseases 51. Pediatric rheumatology

Even Lillejordet

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• PhD Fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health and Society, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 18. Sarcoidosis 20. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis 28. Systemic lupus erythematosus 36. Polyarteritis nodosa

Olay Lutro

• Senior Physician, Diagnostic Center, Stavanger University Hospital
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Tor Magne Madland

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital
• Chapters: 20. Psoriatic arthritis

Oyvind Midtvedt

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 10. Cardiac infections in rheumatic disease 15. Raynaud's phenomenon 35. Systemic sclerosis 43. IgG4-related disease

Maria Dahl Mewwater

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Marthe T. Mæhlen

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 42. Behçet's syndrome

Gudrun E. Norby

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 28. Systemic lupus erythematosus

Kristine R. Nordén

• PhD Fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health and Society, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 6. Non-drug treatment

Katrine Brække Norheim

• Head of Department, Department of Rheumatology, Stavanger University Hospital
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Department 2, University of Bergen
• Chapters: 29. Sjögren's syndrome

Tone Wikene Nystad

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital
• Chapters: 22. Crystal arthritides: an overview 23. Gout 24. Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis 25. Infectious arthritis

Oyvind Palm

• Former Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 29. Sjögren's syndrome 36. Polyarteritis nodosa

Sella Aarrestad Provan

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Disorders, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Innlandet University College
• Chapters: 7. Comorbidity

Melinda Raki

• Senior Consultant, Department of Pathology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 11. Renal manifestations in rheumatic disease

Mona-Elisabeth Rootwelt-Revheim

• Head of Department and Senior Consultant, Interventional Center, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 4. Imaging studies

Tore Salte

• Senior Physician, Diagnostic Center and Rheumatology Department, Stavanger University Hospital
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Helga Truer

• Senior Consultant, Section of Rheumatology, Unit of Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Professor, Department of Health Sciences, Oslo Nye University College
• Chapters: 51. Pediatric Rheumatology

Anne Regine Skogen

• Senior Consultant, Section of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Eye Department, Oslo University Hospital HF, Ullevål Hospital
• Chapters: 51. Pediatric Rheumatology

Carina Gøtestam Skorpen

• Senior Physician, Rheumatology Department, Ålesund Hospital
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences, NTNU
• Chapters: 50. Pregnancy and rheumatic disease

Marit Dahl Solbu

• Senior Consultant, Nephrology Department, University Hospital of Northern Norway
• Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine, UIT The Arctic University of Norway
• Chapters: 38. IgA vasculitis 40. Anti-GBM disease

Anne-Lene Sand-Svartrud

• Postdoctoral fellow, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Chapters: 6. Non-drug treatment

Silje Watterdal Syversen

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health and Society, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 25. Infectious arthritis

Stig Tengesdal

• Specialist, Section of Rheumatology, Unit for Adult Rheumatology, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• Chapters: 34. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Till Uhlig

• Senior Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 22. Crystal arthritis: an overview 23. Gout 24. Calcium pyrophosphate arthritis

Christian Alexander Vedeler

• Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Clinical Department 1, University of Bergen
• Chapters: 12. Nervous system manifestations in rheumatic disease

Marianne Wallenius

• Senior Consultant, Rheumatology Department, St. Olav's Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences, NTNU
• Chapters: 27. Connective tissue diseases: an overview 44. Antiphospholipid syndrome 50. Pregnancy and rheumatic disease

Erik Pareli Wåland

• Senior Consultant, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital HF, Rikshospitalet
• PhD Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 3. Laboratory investigations

Nina Østerås

• Senior Researcher, REMEDY – Research Center for Treatment in Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Department of Rheumatology, Outpatient Clinic and Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital
• Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Health and Society, University of Oslo
• Chapters: 6. Non-drug treatment

Cover of the textbook Rheumatology