Dr. María de los Ángeles Benítez

Dr. María de los Ángeles Benítez is a consultant rheumatologist at Hospital de Clínicas in Asunción — Paraguay's main university hospital and the country's leading centre for specialist medical care. With 14 years of rheumatology practice, Dr. Benítez is one of the most experienced rheumatologists in Paraguay, managing inflammatory arthritis, autoimmune disease, and musculoskeletal disorders for patients across the country.

Paraguay faces a significant burden of rheumatic diseases, with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and gout representing major contributors to disability and reduced quality of life. Access to specialist rheumatology care is concentrated in Asunción, making Hospital de Clínicas a critical referral destination for patients from Paraguay's interior provinces.

Dr. Benítez trained in rheumatology in Argentina — a country with a strong tradition in this specialty — and holds membership in both the Sociedad Paraguaya de Reumatología and the Sociedad Argentina de Reumatología. She is fluent in Spanish, Guaraní, and Portuguese.

Dr. Benítez completed her Médica degree at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA) — Paraguay's oldest and most prestigious public university. She underwent specialist training in Rheumatology in Argentina, where the rheumatology training programme is well-developed and recognised across South America. She is a member of the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) and participates in the SAR annual congress.

Dr. Benítez manages the full spectrum of rheumatic disease. In rheumatoid arthritis, she initiates treat-to-target strategies using conventional synthetic DMARDs (methotrexate, leflunomide, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine) and biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs (TNF inhibitors, JAK inhibitors) where available. In lupus (SLE), she manages cutaneous, articular, haematological, and renal manifestations. In axial spondyloarthritis, she manages ankylosing spondylitis with NSAIDs and biologic anti-TNF and IL-17 inhibitors. She manages gout with urate-lowering therapy and crystal arthropathy. She performs joint aspirations, synovial fluid analysis, and intra-articular corticosteroid injections.

Hospital de Clínicas serves patients from across Paraguay and receives referrals from border regions of Argentina and Brazil. Dr. Benítez consults in Spanish, Guaraní, and Portuguese — enabling effective communication with Paraguay's predominantly bilingual population and with Brazilian patients from border communities such as Ciudad del Este. Video consultations are available for patients in remote provinces and for the Paraguayan diaspora living abroad who need specialist rheumatology guidance.

Dr. Benítez holds specialist certification in Rheumatology from Argentina and is an active member of the Sociedad Paraguaya de Reumatología (SPR), the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR), and the Sociedad Argentina de Reumatología (SAR). She has contributed to rheumatology education in Paraguay, providing continuing medical education sessions for general practitioners on early arthritis recognition and appropriate referral pathways. She has participated in PANLAR regional initiatives addressing access to biologic and targeted synthetic DMARD therapy in Latin America, an important advocacy issue given the cost barriers in Paraguay. She received recognition from the Sociedad Paraguaya de Reumatología for her contributions to specialty development and has been invited to speak at the SAR annual congress.