Rheumatology
The specialty includes a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions which vary from the complex inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disease, to degenerative joint disease and soft tissue disorders affecting muscle, tendon, ligament, bursa, intervertebral disc and meniscus. The consultants also treat soft tissue rheumatic disorders brought on by exercise and hypermobility disorders.
Infusion Service
Certain Rheumatologic conditions can be treated with intravenous (IV) infusions of a medication.
Some of the conditions that are treated with an IV drug infusion include:
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Crohn's disease
- Osteoporosis
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Ulcerative colitis
Patients will be seen by the Consultant Rheumatologist who will arrange the appropriate IV Infusion treatment. Patients will be admitted to the hospital where a member of the nursing staff will administer the IV Infusion under the guidance of your consultant. Your condition will be monitored throughout.
Access to Service:
An e- referral from a GP / Consultant will be required for each patient attending the selected consultant. Please ensure an e-referral is sent via healthlink - we no longer accept fax or postal referrals.
Chronic Fatigue
Connective tissue disorders
Crystal arthritis & Gout
Hypermobility
Inflammatory Arthritis
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosis) SLE
Neck Pain
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Rheumatism
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Sarcoidosis
Sero Negative Arthitis
Soft tissue
Sports Medicine
Vasculitis
Dr. Ahmed El Rafie
Consultant Rheumatologist
Biography
Dr Rafie graduated from Cairo University.
He trained in the UK and did research work in the Lupus Research Institute in St Thomas Hospital – London.
Dr Rafie moved to Ireland in 1995 and worked as a Consultant in Waterford Regional Hospital. He then moved to University Hospital Limerick where he started the rheumatology service for the mid-western area.
He has been working in Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons since 2003.
Dr Rafie practices all aspects of Rheumatology including degenerative and inflammatory arthritis and he supervises the infusion unit in Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons.
Appointments
For appointments & queries opening hours are from 10am to 1pm & 2pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday
Contact Details
- Dr. Ahmed El Rafie
- Consulting Suites, Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons, Georges Quay, Limerick
Secretary
- Sarah Kaghazchi
- Tel: 086-0657420
Dr. Alwin Sebastian
Biography
Dr Alwin Sebastian is a Consultant Rheumatologist at UL Hospital Group Limerick, Ireland. He is an external tutor for the first contact practitioners (MSK masters) at the University of Essex, UK. He is just completed his PhD in Giant Cell Arteritis at the University of Essex. He was an honorary research fellow at Southend University Hospital, UK. He is a faculty member of the international annual GCA and PMR workshops.
Dr Sebastian has completed his dual speciality training in Rheumatology and General Internal Medicine in Ireland and UK. He completed a 2-year Fellowship in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) funded by a grant from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) (Bresnahan-Molloy educational fellowship award) under the mentorship of Professor Dasgupta at Southend, UK. He won the Paul Bacon vasculitis award (Best Research in Vasculitis) from the British Society of Rheumatology in 2020. Dr Sebastian holds the MRCP both in UK and Ireland. He has completed a Master's in Rheumatology (MSc) at King's College London with Merit. He also completed the European Board of Rheumatology certification examination. He led a prospective multicentre (international) observational study in GCA (HAS GCA), which was included within the NIHR portfolio in the UK. He developed and first authored the pre-test probability-based algorithm in suspected GCA, which is currently used in many centres worldwide. He has published numerous research articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences and meetings.
Dr Sebastian is proficient in all areas of general adult Rheumatology, including ultrasound in musculoskeletal and vascular diagnosis in Rheumatology. His sub-speciality interests include Giant cell arteritis, large vessel vasculitis and Polymyalgia Rheumatica. His future interest is to develop Giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia fast-track service in Mid-west Ireland.
Contact Details
- Dr. Alwin Sebastian
- Consulting Suites, Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons, Georges Quay, Limerick
