Greetings from the Doctor
“I approach every treatment by putting myself in my patients’ shoes.”
As a specialist in rheumatism and autoimmune diseases, as well as a primary care physician for the region, Dr. Ko will check for all possible internal diseases.
Our clinic specializes in rheumatism, internal medicine, and allergies. We pride ourselves in approaching our practice from the patients’ point of view.
Doctor’s Profile
Career
| 1982- | M.D./Ph.D granted from the Nihon University School of Medicine; Entered theNihon University Itabashi Hospital’s First Department of Internal Medicine |
|---|---|
| 1990-1992 | Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Rheumatism and Immunology at Scripps Clinic (San Diego, U.S.) |
| 1997-2000 | Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Infectious Diseases at Stanford University (Palo Alto, U.S.) |
| 2000-2010 | Department Head in Internal Medicine at Ageo Kosei Hospital; Chairman for the Committee of Hospital Infection Control |
| 2010-Present | Director of the Koshikiya Clinic for Rheumatism and Internal Medicine |
Qualifications and Memberships
- M.D. / Ph.D.
- Rheumatism Specialist, Japan Rheumatism Society
- Registered Rheumatism Physician, Japan Rheumatism Society
- Industrial Physician, Authorized Physician
Medical Treatment Types
Rheumatism
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is no longer limited to pain management. We are now able to reach beyond conventional goals and use clinical pathology and medical imaging to help improve symptoms, eventually leading to a remission of symptoms. At our clinic, we work carefully and conscientiously with patients to create treatment plans according to each patient’s needs using biological preparation (including Remicade, Enbrel, Actemra, Humira, etc.). We are an established rheumatism clinic with extensive experience treating rheumatism patients, and we look forward to treating you here.
Internal Medicine
We treat patients with all kinds of internal diseases including hypertension, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, chronic respiratory failure (including home oxygen therapy), and more. We also offer guidance on self-injecting Insulin for diabetic patients. Our clinic is equipped to do nasogastric endoscopy with minimal pain (by appointment only). You can also come to us if you need to fill out a city medical examination, or the Ageo City-specific medical examination, also by appointment. Please feel free to come in with any questions or concerns.
Allergies
We treat patients with all kinds of allergies ranging from bronchial asthma to various allergic diseases.
List of Medical Exams Offered
General physical assessment
Height, weight, respiratory examination, vision, hearing, BMI, blood tests, urinalysis, electrocardiogram (EKG), etc.
Ultrasounds
Abdominal, heart, carotid artery, joints, etc.
Endoscopy
We offer nasogastric endoscopy (through the nose) with minimal pain. This allows us to exam the esophagus, stomach, the duodenum, and more.
X-Ray
Bones, joints, chest, abdomen
Blood Tests
For rheumatism, infections, allergies, visceral disease.
For First-Time Patients
A Guide for First-Time Outpatients with Rheumatism
Have your fingers felt swollen or stiff when you wake up in the morning? If this symptom continues for several days or weeks, you might be wondering if you have rheumatism. Or perhaps you’ve been told that you have rheumatism by another doctor, but have yet to get it properly diagnosed or treated by a rheumatism specialist. You might also be someone who’s suffered from rheumatism for many years, and are looking for new treatment plans. Whatever the case may be, we are an established rheumatism clinic with extensive experience treating rheumatism patients, and we look forward to treating you here.
We reserve Mondays and Thursdays between 4:00 – 5:00 PM for first-time rheumatism patients. Please feel free to make an appointment with us by calling our front desk at 048-782-4861.
Rheumatism
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the synovial membranes in the joints. It is accompanied by pain and swelling in the joints, and there is no known cause for the disease. If the inflammation continues, the cartilage and bone can start to melt or destruct, causing the joints to transform permanently and impair many functions.
Symptoms Outside the Joints
Rheumatoid arthritis can be seen as an immune function disorder that affects not only the joints but the entire body, including the skin, eyes, lungs, and blood vessels.
Typical Age of Onset
The typical age of onset for rheumatoid arthritis is between 30 and 50, though it is possible to have onset at any age. It is more common among women compared to men.
Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is no longer limited to pain management. We are now able to reach beyond conventional goals and use clinical pathology and medical imaging to help improve symptoms, eventually leading to a remission of symptoms. At our clinic, we work carefully and conscientiously with patients to create treatment plans according to each patient’s needs using biological preparation (including Remicade, Enbrel, Actemra, Humira, etc.). We are an established rheumatism clinic with extensive experience treating rheumatism patients, and we look forward to treating you here.
Autoimmune Diseases
Venereal Rheumatism / Autoimmune Diseases
Our clinic specializes in treating patients with a variety of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, recurring rheumatism, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), RS3PE Syndrome, gout, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis (PM), dermatomyositis (DM), scleroderma (crest syndrome), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), Sjogren’s syndrome, Behcet’s disease (BD), sarcoidosis, and more.
We welcome patients with or without referrals. For first-time rheumatism patients, we ask that you call ahead and make a special appointment with us (see the page for First-Time Patients for more information). We would appreciate it if first-time patients refrain from coming in without a scheduled appointment, so that the doctor can spend as much time as needed with your consultation.
Biological Preparation
Biological Preparation
In rheumatoid arthritis, an abnormality in the immune system causes the body to create inflammatory cytokines in the joints, which in turn causes the synovial membrane to swell, inflicting chronic pain and swelling.
Biological preparation is a recently discovered treatment for rheumatoid arthritis that is considered extremely effective, as it neutralizes the inflammatory cytokines and helps the body prepare antibodies. This type of medical treatment was created by genetic engineers, and while it’s considered extremely safe, there are also possible risks and side effects. As a Rheumatism Specialist registered with the Japan Rheumatism Society, I take full responsibility in explaining the effectiveness, safety, process, and costs of biological preparations to all of my patients.
a; Remicade; Anti-TNF Alpha Antibody;
This highly effective drug is administered by an IV drip, and increasing the dosage is also accepted. Remicade is widely popular overseas, where it is used in over 100 countries by over 1.5 million patients with rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. In Japan, it is used by over 70,000 patients.
b; Enbrel; Soluble TNF Receptor;
Administered by injection, this drug works by interfering with the abundance of TNF in the body, thereby suppressing inflammation. After 6 months of administering the drug, 84% of the patients reported its effectiveness. With our easy, gentle guidance, it is possible for patients to self-administer this injection.
c; Humira; Anti-Human TNF-Alpha Antibody;
Administered once every 2 weeks via hypodermic injection, with the option for self-injection. After 4 months of administering the drug, about 70% of patients reported improvement in symptoms.
d; Actemra; Anti-Human IL-6 Receptor Antibody;
This drug works by suppressing IL-6, one of the cytokines that causes inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. It is administered once every 4 weeks by IV drip, over a course of about an hour each time.
e; Simponi; Anti-Human TNF-Alpha Antibody;
This treatment is administered at the clinic once a month via injection. This is suitable for patients who have difficulty self-injecting, as the dosage is only 0.5 ml and there is minimal pain on the injection site.
f; Orencia;
While rheumatoid arthritis is a condition linked to an abnormality in the immune system, Orencia works by suppressing the movement of T-lymphocytes, which in turn prevents the body from producing more cytokines that cause inflammation in the first place. This leads to improvement in joint pain and swelling.
How To Make An Appointment
How to Make an Appointment by Phone
Call our front desk at 048-782-4861 and follow the automated instructions.
How to Make an Appointment Online
- Click on this link. You can access this link using a PC or cellphone.
- Create, or log in to your profile.
- Under the main menu, you may enter your email address to receive confirmation for your appointment.
- Online appointments are available to new patients, as well as established patients.
- Our site supports Internet Explorer 5.X (Windows), 1024x768 and above.
- Our site may not work for browsers that do not enable JavaScript.
- If you’re accessing the site via cellphone, the site works on i-mode, Yahoo! Live, and EZweb, among others.
- If you have trouble accessing the site or making an appointment, you may also make an appointment by phone.
- Some email addresses may not work with our site.
Schedule
We are closed on Tuesdays, Sundays, and Saturday afternoons.
| Mon | Tues | Web | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00-12:30(Sign-in by 12:15) | Open | Closed | Open | Open | Open | Open | Closed |
| 14:00-18:00(Sign-in by 17:45) | Open | Closed | Open | Open | Open | Closed | Closed |
