Asst. Prof. Mert Öztaş, MD

Asst. Prof. Mert Öztaş, MD is a rheumatology specialist in the Rheumatology Department at Acibadem Atakent Hospital and Acibadem Atasehir Hospital in İstanbul. He has more than 14 years of experience in medicine, and his clinical work is centered on inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic conditions, including vasculitis, Behçet’s disease, Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Öztaş graduated from İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine in 2012. He completed his Internal Medicine training at the same faculty in 2018 and his Rheumatology training there in 2021. His professional career began at Devrek Devlet Hospital in 2012. From 2013 to 2018 he worked in Internal Medicine at İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, followed by a position in Rheumatology at the same institution from 2018 to 2021. Between 2021 and 2023 he practiced at Health Sciences University İstanbul Training and Research Hospital, and in 2023 he joined Acıbadem Healthcare Services. He is a member of the Turkish Rheumatology Association, TRD-G (Turkish Rheumatology Association-Young) and EMEUNET (Emerging EULAR Network). His published work includes studies on the presentation and clinical outcome of patients with giant cell arteritis, the use of rituximab in retroperitoneal fibrosis, and the frequency and severity of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases treated regularly with colchicine or hydroxychloroquine, as well as a case report on atorvastatin-induced dermatomyositis.

Clinical focus

A substantial part of Dr. Öztaş’s practice is devoted to systemic inflammatory diseases. He assesses and manages patients with vasculitis, a group of conditions in which inflammation affects the blood vessels, and with Behçet’s disease. He also sees patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), an autoinflammatory condition characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and inflammation. Because these conditions can involve several organ systems, evaluation often includes a detailed history, clinical examination and review of laboratory and imaging findings before treatment options are discussed.

Dr. Öztaş also cares for patients with inflammatory joint disease. This includes ankylosing spondylitis, which primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune condition affecting the joints. Management of these conditions is individualized and generally involves ongoing monitoring of disease activity and treatment response over time.

How Dr. Öztaş works with international patients

Dr. Öztaş consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. Before a visit, the international patient team coordinates the collection of prior medical reports and imaging, arranges appointments and organizes the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the available options. For patients who are not yet able to travel, video consultation is available so that an initial assessment of the medical documentation and a discussion of possible next steps can take place remotely.