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2015 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Source :
- Arthritis & Rheumatology; Jan2016, Vol. 68 Issue 1, p1-26, 26p
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- BIOTHERAPY
THERAPEUTIC use of glucocorticoids
TUBERCULOSIS diagnosis
VACCINES
ANTIRHEUMATIC agents
RHEUMATOLOGY
MEDICAL care standards
ALGORITHMS
CONFIDENCE intervals
CONSENSUS (Social sciences)
HEART failure
HEPATITIS B
HEPATITIS C
INFECTION
MEDICAL databases
INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems
MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems
MEDICAL protocols
MEDLINE
ONLINE information services
PATIENTS
RHEUMATOID arthritis
TUMORS
SYSTEMATIC reviews
LABORATORY test panels
DATA analysis software
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
META-synthesis
SOCIETIES
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 23265191
- Volume :
- 68
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Arthritis & Rheumatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 111968903
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/art.39480