Q: I have recently relocated to Bangalore from the US. In US 6 weeks after childbirth I had Rheumatoid Arthritis with high RA factor, high CRP and high ESR rates. I was put on 10 mg prednisone daily. It was only after 1 month that I was able to start tapering off the prednisone and I am down to 1/4th mg every 7 days. The doctors in the US put me on Antibiotic Minocin (minocycline) 100 mg - 2 times a day to start with and tapered down to 100 mg thrice a week. Here in Bangalore I am unable so far to find any doctor who is willing to follow this protocol. Please advice. Also please suggest what tests I need to keep doing and at what frequency to find out whether my disease is in remission or not and whether the antibiotic is harming my liver (US doctor said it does happen in some tiny percent of cases).

A:Bangalore is fortunate to have a number of top rheumatologists of the country. I suggest you meet Dr. K. Mahendranath, one of the leading rheumatologist of the country. His contact details are as follows: Dr. K. M. Mahendranath, No. 29, 5th Block, Central Street, KPW Extension, Bangalore 560 0 20 Tel: 23613385 Get the following tests done before seeing him: - ESR (Westergren), platelets, haemoglobin, total and differential leukocyte count. - AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), ALP (Alk phos), total serum proteins, serum albumin. - BUN or blood urea, serum creatinine, blood glucose. - Routine and microscopic urine.