Recommended Rheumatologist in Singapore 2026

Persistent joint pain, swelling, stiffness or unexplained symptoms involving several parts of the body may require assessment beyond general musculoskeletal care. Rheumatologists assess conditions affecting the joints, muscles, connective tissues and immune system, including inflammatory arthritis and systemic autoimmune diseases.
 

Choosing a rheumatologist in Singapore may involve considering the doctor’s qualifications, clinical interests, scope of services, consultation process and ability to coordinate care where several organ systems are affected.
 

Dr Anindita Santosa is the Founding Medical Director of Aaria Rheumatology and practises as a Consultant Rheumatologist, Clinical Immunologist and Allergist. Her clinical scope includes autoimmune diseases, inflammatory arthritis, allergic disorders, immune dysregulation and adult immunodeficiency.

Profile Summary: Dr Anindita Santosa

Name: Dr Anindita Santosa
 

Specialty: Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Allergy
 

Qualifications:

• MBBS

• MRCP (UK)

• FAMS (Rheumatology)

• MSc in Allergy, Imperial College London
   

Current postgraduate study:

• Part-time MSc in Integrated Immunology at the University of Oxford
   

Clinical interests:

• Systemic autoimmune connective tissue diseases

• Inflammatory arthritis

• Connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary hypertension

• Osteoporosis

• Allergic disorders

• Immune dysregulation

• Adult immunodeficiency

• Women’s health in relation to autoimmune and immunological conditions
   

Languages spoken:

• English

• Bahasa Indonesia
   

Professional role:

• Founding Medical Director of Aaria Rheumatology

• Consultant Rheumatologist, Clinical Immunologist and Allergist
   

Dr Santosa has practised as a rheumatologist since 2017 and completed formal subspecialty training in Clinical Immunology and Allergy in 2023.

Clinic Locations

Gleneagles Medical Centre

6 Napier Road
Gleneagles Medical Centre, #09-11
Singapore 258499

WhatsApp: +65 8339 0893
 

Mount Alvernia Hospital

820 Thomson Road
Medical Centre A, #02-08
Singapore 574623

WhatsApp: +65 9150 9650

Contact Information

Telephone: +65 6908 1730
Urgent attention after office hours: +65 6535 8833
Fax: +65 6908 1738
Email: enquiry@aariarheumatology.com.sg

Conditions and Services Within Dr Santosa’s Practice

Dr Santosa’s work covers rheumatology, clinical immunology and allergy. This combined scope may be relevant when symptoms overlap across inflammatory, autoimmune, allergic and immune-related conditions.
 

The assessment or treatment recommended depends on the patient’s symptoms, medical history, examination findings and available investigation results.

Inflammatory Arthritis

Inflammatory arthritis occurs when inflammation affects one or several joints. Symptoms may include swelling, warmth, stiffness, pain and reduced movement.
 

Conditions assessed at Aaria Rheumatology include:

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Psoriatic arthritis

• Axial spondyloarthritis

• Peripheral spondyloarthritis

• Suspected early inflammatory arthritis
   

Some inflammatory joint diseases may also produce symptoms outside the joints. The areas affected and pattern of symptoms can therefore form part of the diagnostic assessment.

Connective Tissue and Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Systemic autoimmune diseases develop when immune activity affects the body’s own tissues. Depending on the condition, the joints, skin, muscles, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys or other organs may be involved.
 

Conditions within the clinic’s stated scope include:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus

• Sjögren’s syndrome

• Systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma

• Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

• Mixed connective tissue disease

• Undifferentiated connective tissue disease

• Autoimmune overlap syndromes
   

Patients with multi-system conditions may require monitoring by several medical disciplines. The specialists involved will depend on the diagnosis and organs affected.

Gout and Other Crystal-Related Conditions

The clinic also assesses gout, hyperuricaemia and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.
 

Gout can cause episodes of joint pain, swelling and inflammation. Assessment may involve reviewing the pattern of attacks, medication history, blood test results and related health factors.
 

The treatment plan will depend on the diagnosis, frequency of symptoms and the patient’s medical circumstances.

Vasculitis and Other Immune-Mediated Conditions

Vasculitis refers to a group of disorders involving inflammation of the blood vessels. The symptoms can vary according to the type of vasculitis and the organs affected.
 

Conditions listed within the clinic’s scope include:

• ANCA-associated vasculitis

• Large-vessel vasculitis

• Medium-vessel vasculitis

• Behçet’s disease

• Autoinflammatory disorders

• Other immune-mediated rheumatic conditions

Degenerative and Non-Inflammatory Musculoskeletal Conditions

Not every joint or muscle condition is caused by systemic inflammation. Rheumatology assessment may also cover:

• Osteoarthritis

• Soft tissue rheumatism

• Chronic widespread pain

• Fibromyalgia

• Joint hypermobility syndromes
   

Assessment can help distinguish inflammatory disease from degenerative, mechanical or non-inflammatory causes of pain.

Clinical Immunology and Allergy Care

Dr Santosa has a stated special interest in Clinical Immunology and Allergy and completed formal subspecialty training in these areas in 2023.

Immune Dysregulation and Adult Immunodeficiency

Clinical immunology services at Aaria Rheumatology include:

• Evaluation of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

• Assessment of complex immune dysregulation syndromes

• Primary immunodeficiency assessment

• Secondary immunodeficiency assessment

• Evaluation of recurrent infections

• Autoimmune serology and immune investigations

• Interpretation of complex or inconclusive immune test results
   

Recurrent infections or unusual investigation findings do not necessarily confirm an immune disorder. A clinical assessment is required to determine whether an immune evaluation is appropriate.

Allergic Conditions

Allergy services listed by the clinic include assessment of:

• Suspected drug hypersensitivity

• Possible vaccine allergy

• Allergic rhinitis

• Allergic conjunctivitis

• Urticaria

• Angioedema

• Food allergies

• Environmental allergies

• Conditions involving overlapping allergic and immune-mediated features
   

Care may involve reviewing the suspected trigger, timing and pattern of symptoms, previous reactions and relevant medical history. Risk assessment and continuing management may be discussed where applicable.

Procedures and Treatment Options

The treatment considered for a rheumatic or immune-related condition depends on the diagnosis, disease activity, previous response to treatment and the patient’s wider health circumstances.
 

Medication categories available within the clinic’s stated services include:

• Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

• Biologic therapies

• Targeted synthetic therapies, including JAK inhibitors

• Immunomodulatory medicines

• Immunosuppressive medicines
   

The potential benefits, risks and alternatives of treatment should be discussed before medication is started or changed.
 

Procedural services include:

• Joint injections

• Soft tissue injections

• Musculoskeletal assessments

• Guided interventions

• Nailfold capillaroscopy

• Infusion and therapy planning where applicable
   

Nailfold capillaroscopy examines the small blood vessels around the nail bed and may form part of the assessment for certain connective tissue or vascular conditions.

How Dr Santosa Approaches Rheumatology Care

Patients looking for a rheumatologist may wish to understand how consultations, investigations and continued care are structured. Dr Santosa’s practice covers several aspects of rheumatic and immune-related disease management.

Combined Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy Assessment

Symptoms do not always fall within a single medical category. Joint inflammation may occur alongside skin, respiratory, allergic or immune-related concerns.
 

Dr Santosa’s scope across rheumatology, clinical immunology and allergy allows these overlapping symptoms to be considered within the same specialist practice. Referral to another discipline may still be required when a condition falls outside this scope or affects an organ requiring separate specialist management.

Detailed Review of Symptoms and Medical History

An initial consultation begins with a discussion of symptoms, medical history, previous investigations and earlier treatments. The doctor may also ask how the condition affects work, mobility, family responsibilities and daily activities.
 

A focused physical examination may follow, based on the patient’s symptoms and concerns.
 

Patients may bring available medical information such as:

• Consultation notes or clinic letters

• Hospital discharge summaries

• Blood test results

• X-ray, ultrasound, CT or MRI reports

• Biopsy or pathology findings

• A current medication and supplement list

• Information about treatments previously stopped

• A written summary of symptoms

• Questions they would like to discuss
   

Pregnancy plans, vaccinations, recent infections, family history and relevant life events may also be discussed where applicable.

Diagnostic Review and Care Planning

A confirmed diagnosis may not always be possible during the initial consultation. Autoimmune and immunological diseases can produce overlapping symptoms, and some conditions become clearer through observation and follow-up.
 

Where applicable, the consultation may explain:

• The working diagnosis

• Other conditions being considered

• Findings that are currently understood

• Areas that remain uncertain

• Investigations that may be useful

• Possible treatment options

• Follow-up arrangements
   

Additional tests may be suggested when they are relevant to diagnosis or management.

Participation in Treatment Decisions

Patients may be involved in discussions concerning treatment options, potential benefits, risks and alternatives. The consultation may also cover medication use, vaccination planning, lifestyle considerations and symptoms to monitor between appointments.
 

This process can help patients understand why a particular investigation, treatment or monitoring plan is being considered.

Coordination With Other Medical Disciplines

Systemic autoimmune diseases can affect several parts of the body. Aaria Rheumatology lists collaboration with professionals in:

• Obstetrics

• Nephrology

• Dermatology

• Respiratory medicine

• Neurology

• Allied health services
   

The care team will depend on the patient’s diagnosis and the organs or functions affected.

Continued Monitoring

Some rheumatic diseases follow a chronic or fluctuating course. Continued care may involve:

• Monitoring symptoms and disease activity

• Reviewing investigation results

• Assessing medication tolerance

• Revising treatment where clinically indicated

• Discussing possible flare symptoms

• Reviewing mobility and daily function

• Considering rehabilitation and lifestyle support

• Providing disease and medication education
   

Follow-up intervals vary according to the condition, treatment plan and clinical findings.

Professional and Patient-Education Involvement

Dr Santosa is involved in clinical education, academic writing and professional development. Her clinic profile also lists involvement with the Singapore Society of Rheumatology and the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology.
 

She is involved with the Lupus Association Singapore in patient education, advocacy and awareness relating to systemic autoimmune diseases.

Women’s Health and Autoimmune Conditions

Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases may require specific planning during pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility treatment, contraception and menopause.
 

Services available at Aaria Rheumatology include:

• Autoimmune disease management during pregnancy

• Care planning during breastfeeding

• Fertility discussions

• Contraception counselling

• Medication counselling

• Menopause-related considerations

• Disease management across different life stages
   

These discussions can help patients understand how their condition and medication plan relate to reproductive health and life-stage changes.

When to Consider Consulting a Rheumatologist

A rheumatology consultation may be considered when symptoms persist, recur or begin to affect normal activities.
 

Reasons for seeking an assessment can include:

• Persistent joint pain

• Joint swelling, warmth or redness

• Prolonged stiffness after waking

• Reduced joint movement

• Recurrent gout attacks

• Chronic back pain accompanied by stiffness

• Unexplained fatigue with joint, skin or systemic symptoms

• Persistent dry eyes or dry mouth

• Recurring fever or rashes with musculoskeletal symptoms

• Blood tests suggesting inflammation or autoimmune activity

• Symptoms affecting several organ systems

• A suspected or confirmed autoimmune condition

• Recurrent infections requiring an immune evaluation

• A suspected medicine, vaccine, food or environmental allergy

• The need for diagnostic clarification or a treatment review
   

These symptoms can have several possible causes and do not confirm a rheumatic or immunological disorder. A medical assessment is required to determine whether specialist investigations or treatment are appropriate.

Choosing a Rheumatologist in Singapore

The suitability of a rheumatologist depends on the condition being assessed, the doctor’s clinical scope and the patient’s individual needs. Practical factors such as clinic location, communication preferences, continued monitoring and coordination with other specialists may also be relevant.
 

Dr Anindita Santosa practises across rheumatology, clinical immunology and allergy at Aaria Rheumatology. Her stated interests include inflammatory arthritis, systemic autoimmune connective tissue diseases, allergic disorders, immune dysregulation, adult immunodeficiency, osteoporosis and women’s health.
 

Patients can contact Aaria Rheumatology to enquire whether their symptoms or condition fall within the clinic’s scope before arranging a consultation.
 

This article is intended for general education and does not replace an individual medical consultation.