The main research activities of Pedaitrics-2 Department are focused on resolving current and possible future problems in pediatric cardiorheumatology. This scientific direction was chosen with regard to:
- Many years of experience of the Department, which is the main and only department in Ukraine conducting the specialty training program and refresher training courses for pediatric cardiorheumatologists;
- Head of the Department professor Tetiana Marushko is the chief expert of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in the field of pediatric cardiorheumatology;
- Breakthrough achievements at the national and foreign countries’ level in the field of pediatric rheumatology, namely conducting the therapy using genetic engineering biological drugs;
- A significant need of the health care system in the development of pediatric cardiorheumatology.
According to the main results of scientific research, a lecture course, skill building lessons and seminars, which are taught during the special training programs and theme-based advanced training for specialists (pediatric cardiorheumatologists, pediatricians and general practitioners - family medicine doctors) have been worked out and updated.
In 2017, the research work "Improvement of diagnostic methods and treatment of juvenile arthritides" (2015-2017) was completed.
The scientific hypothesis of this direction is to increase the medical care effectiveness for children with juvenile arthritis, namely diagnostic improvement (using radiologic methods at early disease stage), shortening the turnaround time for diagnosis in the early disease stage and early start of adequate therapy to prevent the progression of the pathological process in the joints and development of disability.
Real-life impact:
– the quality of diagnostics and treatment of juvenile arthritis increased by 35% due to the provided comprehensive clinical and laboratory instrumental characteristics of juvenile arthritis, starting from the first months of disease onset (up to 6 weeks) and in the next 1-2 years;
- the probability of complications and disability decreased by 92% due to the determination of factors influencing the outcome and prognosis of juvenile arthritis, namely prompt diagnostic measures in the early disease stage with the prescription of an appropriate therapy.
Prospects of scientific research development in the coming years: to implement the improved diagnostic measures and to prescribe early an aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, including genetic engineering biological therapy to reduce the likelihood of disability in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.