[Quality assurance in rheumatology--the rheumatologic anamnesis]

The systemic character of the rheumatic diseases has to be considered in the interview of a patient with rheumatic symptoms. It is the aim of this article to point to the importance of the anamnesis as part of the quality control in rheumatology and to present a short list of concise questions which proved to be valuable when dealing with patients with rheumatic symptoms. A physician not trained in rheumatology should be enabled to appreciate extraarticular symptoms in the context of the systemic nature of the rheumatic diseases.