Dr. Ana Sofia Costa Ferreira

Dr. Ana Sofia Costa Ferreira is a highly regarded academic rheumatologist based at Hospital de Santa Maria — Lisbon's principal university teaching hospital and one of Portugal's foremost centers for rheumatic disease. With nearly two decades of clinical and research experience, she is recognized as a leading expert in inflammatory arthritis and systemic autoimmune diseases within the Portuguese and broader European rheumatology community. Her clinical practice balances the management of common rheumatic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout, with complex systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus, vasculitis, and inflammatory myopathies. A strong proponent of early diagnosis and treat-to-target strategies, Dr. Costa Ferreira integrates modern biologic and targeted synthetic therapies to optimize outcomes for patients with chronic inflammatory disease. As an academic physician affiliated with Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, she contributes to clinical research and the training of rheumatology residents. She participates actively in Portuguese and European Rheumatology societies, contributing to clinical guideline development and quality improvement initiatives.

Dr. Costa Ferreira earned her MD from Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, completing her degree with distinction. She undertook her Internal Medicine residency and subsequent Rheumatology subspecialty training at Hospital de Santa Maria, acquiring broad clinical expertise under the supervision of senior academic rheumatologists. She pursued her PhD in Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology through Universidade de Lisboa, with doctoral research focused on biomarkers predicting biologic therapy response in rheumatoid arthritis. She completed an overseas research fellowship at an EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology) accredited center, advancing her expertise in disease activity measurement tools and treat-to-target strategies. She holds full Rheumatology Board Certification from the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos) and is a member of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia and EULAR.

Dr. Costa Ferreira provides expert rheumatological care across a comprehensive range of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Her primary clinical areas include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, inflammatory myopathies (dermatomyositis and polymyositis), systemic vasculitis, and crystal arthropathies (gout and pseudogout). She has extensive expertise in the use of conventional DMARDs (methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, sulfasalazine, leflunomide) alongside biologic and targeted synthetic DMARDs including anti-TNF agents, IL-6 inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, and rituximab. She performs musculoskeletal ultrasound for joint assessment and guided injection procedures. She also manages osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, which frequently coexist with inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

Hospital de Santa Maria and Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte welcome international patients seeking specialist rheumatology care. Dr. Costa Ferreira consults in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, ensuring effective communication with the majority of international patients presenting at the hospital. Lisbon is an easily accessible European capital served by major airlines, making it a practical destination for medical travelers from across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The hospital has experience coordinating care for international patients and can assist with appointment booking and medical record management. Telemedicine consultations are available for patients who require specialist rheumatological review without traveling, and for ongoing management of patients residing abroad.

Dr. Costa Ferreira is a member of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia (SPR), the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). She has received the SPR Young Investigator Award for her doctoral research on biologic therapy biomarkers. She has presented her work at the EULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatology and has authored peer-reviewed publications in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases and Rheumatology. She has served on the editorial board of the Acta Reumatológica Portuguesa.