Journal Article

Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: 2014 update of the recommendations of an international task force

Takeuchi, Tsutomu, Durez, Patrick, Kvien, Tore K, Thorne, Carter, Navarro-Compán, M Victoria, Cardiel, Mario, Betteridge, Neil, Hannonen, Pekka, Ostergaard, Mikkel, Tzioufas, Athanasios G, Smolen, Josef S, Burmester, Gerd R, Scholte-Voshaar, Marieke, Fonseca, Joao Eurico, Bykerk, Vivian, Schoels, Monika, Östör, Andrew, Dougados, Maxime, Stoffer, Michaela, Graninger, Winfried, de Wit, Martinus, Sokka-Isler, Tuulikki, Aringer, Martin, Gomez-Reino, Juan J, Combe, Bernard, Aletaha, Daniel, van der Heijde, Desirée, Gibofsky, Alan, van Vollenhoven, Ronald, Burkhardt, Harald, Andreu, Jose Louis, Martin-Mola, Emilio, Nash, Peter, Stamm, Tanja, Oliver, Susan, Landewe, Robert, Richards, Pam, Haraoui, Boulos, Bijlsma, Hans, Kouloumas, Marios, Bergman, Martin, Breedveld, Ferdinand C, Emery, Paul

2016

Overview

BackgroundReaching the therapeutic target of remission or low-disease activity has improved outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) significantly. The treat-to-target recommendations, formulated in 2010, have provided a basis for implementation of a strategic approach towards this therapeutic goal in routine clinical practice, but these recommendations need to be re-evaluated for appropriateness and practicability in the light of new insights.ObjectiveTo update the 2010 treat-to-target recommendations based on systematic literature reviews (SLR) and expert opinion.MethodsA task force of rheumatologists, patients and a nurse specialist assessed the SLR results and evaluated the individual items of the 2010 recommendations accordingly, reformulating many of the items. These were subsequently discussed, amended and voted upon by >40 experts, including 5 patients, from various regions of the world. Levels of evidence, strengths of recommendations and levels of agreement were derived.ResultsThe update resulted in 4 overarching principles and 10 recommendations. The previous recommendations were partly adapted and their order changed as deemed appropriate in terms of importance in the view of the experts. The SLR had now provided also data for the effectiveness of targeting low-disease activity or remission in established rather than only early disease. The role of comorbidities, including their potential to preclude treatment intensification, was highlighted more strongly than before. The treatment aim was again defined as remission with low-disease activity being an alternative goal especially in patients with long-standing disease. Regular follow-up (every 1–3 months during active disease) with according therapeutic adaptations to reach the desired state was recommended. Follow-up examinations ought to employ composite measures of disease activity that include joint counts. Additional items provide further details for particular aspects of the disease, especially comorbidity and shared decision-making with the patient. Levels of evidence had increased for many items compared with the 2010 recommendations, and levels of agreement were very high for most of the individual recommendations (≥9/10).ConclusionsThe 4 overarching principles and 10 recommendations are based on stronger evidence than before and are supposed to inform patients, rheumatologists and other stakeholders about strategies to reach optimal outcomes of RA.

• Publisher: Elsevier Limited,BMJ Publishing Group
• Subject: Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use / Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy / Arthritis, Rheumatoid - pathology / Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology / Committees / Comorbidity / Drug dosages / Evidence-Based Medicine / Human health and pathology / Humans / Life Sciences / Literature reviews / Maintenance Chemotherapy / Patient Care Planning / Patient Participation / Principles / Recommendation / Remission (Medicine) / Remission Induction / Rheumatoid arthritis / Rheumatology / Rhumatology and musculoskeletal system / Severity of Illness Index / Task forces / Terminology as Topic