TY - JOUR
T1 - 2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis
AU - Singh, Jasvinder A.
AU - Saag, Kenneth G.
AU - Bridges, S. Louis
AU - Akl, Elie A.
AU - Bannuru, Raveendhara R.
AU - Sullivan, Matthew C.
AU - Vaysbrot, Elizaveta
AU - McNaughton, Christine
AU - Osani, Mikala
AU - Shmerling, Robert H.
AU - Curtis, Jeffrey R.
AU - Furst, Daniel E.
AU - Parks, Deborah
AU - Kavanaugh, Arthur
AU - O'Dell, James
AU - King, Charles
AU - Leong, Amye
AU - Matteson, Eric L.
AU - Schousboe, John T.
AU - Drevlow, Barbara
AU - Ginsberg, Seth
AU - Grober, James
AU - St.Clair, E. William
AU - Tindall, Elizabeth
AU - Miller, Amy S.
AU - McAlindon, Timothy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, American College of Rheumatology.
PY - 2016/1/1
Y1 - 2016/1/1
N2 - Objective To develop a new evidence-based, pharmacologic treatment guideline for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We conducted systematic reviews to synthesize the evidence for the benefits and harms of various treatment options. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to rate the quality of evidence. We employed a group consensus process to grade the strength of recommendations (either strong or conditional). A strong recommendation indicates that clinicians are certain that the benefits of an intervention far outweigh the harms (or vice versa). A conditional recommendation denotes uncertainty over the balance of benefits and harms and/or more significant variability in patient values and preferences. Results The guideline covers the use of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic agents, tofacitinib, and glucocorticoids in early (<6 months) and established (≥6 months) RA. In addition, it provides recommendations on using a treat-to-target approach, tapering and discontinuing medications, and the use of biologic agents and DMARDs in patients with hepatitis, congestive heart failure, malignancy, and serious infections. The guideline addresses the use of vaccines in patients starting/receiving DMARDs or biologic agents, screening for tuberculosis in patients starting/receiving biologic agents or tofacitinib, and laboratory monitoring for traditional DMARDs. The guideline includes 74 recommendations: 23% are strong and 77% are conditional. Conclusion This RA guideline should serve as a tool for clinicians and patients (our two target audiences) for pharmacologic treatment decisions in commonly encountered clinical situations. These recommendations are not prescriptive, and the treatment decisions should be made by physicians and patients through a shared decision-making process taking into account patients' values, preferences, and comorbidities. These recommendations should not be used to limit or deny access to therapies.
AB - Objective To develop a new evidence-based, pharmacologic treatment guideline for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We conducted systematic reviews to synthesize the evidence for the benefits and harms of various treatment options. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to rate the quality of evidence. We employed a group consensus process to grade the strength of recommendations (either strong or conditional). A strong recommendation indicates that clinicians are certain that the benefits of an intervention far outweigh the harms (or vice versa). A conditional recommendation denotes uncertainty over the balance of benefits and harms and/or more significant variability in patient values and preferences. Results The guideline covers the use of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic agents, tofacitinib, and glucocorticoids in early (<6 months) and established (≥6 months) RA. In addition, it provides recommendations on using a treat-to-target approach, tapering and discontinuing medications, and the use of biologic agents and DMARDs in patients with hepatitis, congestive heart failure, malignancy, and serious infections. The guideline addresses the use of vaccines in patients starting/receiving DMARDs or biologic agents, screening for tuberculosis in patients starting/receiving biologic agents or tofacitinib, and laboratory monitoring for traditional DMARDs. The guideline includes 74 recommendations: 23% are strong and 77% are conditional. Conclusion This RA guideline should serve as a tool for clinicians and patients (our two target audiences) for pharmacologic treatment decisions in commonly encountered clinical situations. These recommendations are not prescriptive, and the treatment decisions should be made by physicians and patients through a shared decision-making process taking into account patients' values, preferences, and comorbidities. These recommendations should not be used to limit or deny access to therapies.
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U2 - 10.1002/art.39480
DO - 10.1002/art.39480
M3 - Article
C2 - 26545825
AN - SCOPUS:84956767541
SN - 2326-5191
VL - 68
SP - 1
EP - 26
JO - Arthritis and Rheumatology
JF - Arthritis and Rheumatology
IS - 1
ER -