Journal Article

International consensus for a definition of disease flare in lupus

Gordon, C, von Feldt, JM, Costner, MI, Filocamo, G, Isenberg, DA, Grossman, J, Dooley, MA, Cronin, ME, Hanrahan, LM, Buyon, JP, Franks, AG, Fiorentino, D, Brunetta, P, Ginzler, E, Sánchez-Guerrero, J, Ruperto, N, Belmont, HM, Urowitz, M, Sontheimer, RD, Merrill, JT, Gilkeson, G, Fortin, PR, Alarcón, GS, Sammaritano, L, Brey, RL, Werth, VP, Hahn, B, Strand, V, Kalunian, KC, Petri, M

2011

Overview

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) convened an international working group to obtain a consensus definition of disease flare in lupus. With help from the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO), two web-based Delphi surveys of physicians were conducted. Subsequently, the LFA held a second consensus conference followed by a third Delphi survey to reach a community-wide agreement for flare definition. Sixty-nine of the 120 (57.5%) polled physicians responded to the first survey. Fifty-nine of the responses were available to draft 12 preliminary statements, which were circulated in the second survey. Eighty-seven of 118 (74%) physicians completed the second survey, with an agreement of 70% for 9/12 (75%) statements. During the second conference, three alternative flare definitions were consolidated and sent back to the international community. One hundred and sixteen of 146 (79.5%) responded, with agreement by 71/116 (61%) for the following definition: “A flare is a measurable increase in disease activity in one or more organ systems involving new or worse clinical signs and symptoms and/or laboratory measurements. It must be considered clinically significant by the assessor and usually there would be at least consideration of a change or an increase in treatment.” The LFA proposes this definition for lupus flare on the basis of its high face validity.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,Sage Publications Ltd
• Subject: Acute Disease / Clinical trials / Delphi Technique / Disease / Humans / Internationality / Lupus / Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis / Medical research / Medicine / Pediatrics / Physicians / Rheumatology / Terminology as Topic