Release of Update to Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Contact:Tammy McCoy(404) 633-3777 [email protected]

American College of Rheumatology Releases Highly Anticipated Update to Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis

ATLANTA, GA (February 7, 2002) -- Updated guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis have been published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, an official journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Due to major advancements in the management and treatment of this disease, the ACR has updated its guidelines after only five years.

More than 2 million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function in the joints and inflammation in other body organs. Although rheumatoid arthritis remains a serious disease, recent improvements in treatment have made a dramatic difference in the lives of many people. Many of these new treatments have emerged only in the last five years because of exciting and rapidly advancing research into the fundamental mechanisms of inflammation. As a result, scientists have developed precisely targeted therapies.

The article reviews evidence on new therapies such as genetically engineered biologic response modifiers (e.g., entanercept, infliximab, anakinra), which target specific chemicals that cause inflammation, and other new disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, or DMARDs (e.g., leflunomide). The guidelines include information on efficacy, time to benefit, potential side effects, monitoring of side effects, costs of the drug and how the medication is administered. All of these are important considerations for choosing a specific treatment strategy, but may not be typically included in treatment guidelines. This update includes a treatment algorithm that incorporates the advances in treatment options. Primary care physicians, rheumatologists and other physicians who care for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis should find the algorithm useful in following proven treatment protocols. The guidelines emphasize early diagnosis and treatment since recent studies have shown that early treatment, defined as within three months of disease onset, is critical in attaining better disease outcomes. Damage to joints often occurs within the first two years of disease and early treatment may prevent this damage.

The article was written by the ACR Subcommittee on Rheumatoid Arthritis Guidelines. Members of the subcommittee are C. Kent Kwoh, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh; Larry G. Anderson, MD, Rheumatology Associates, Portland, Maine; Jerry M. Greene, MD, VA Medical Center, West Roxbury, Massachusetts; Dorothy A. Johnson, DNSc, FNP, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles; James R. O'Dell, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Mark L. Robbins, MD, MPH, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Boston; W. Neal Roberts, Jr., MD, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond; Robert W. Simms, MD, Boston University Arthritis Center, Boston; Robert A. Yood, MD, The Fallon Clinic, Worcester, Massachusetts.

The ACR develops practice guidelines for the purposes of reducing inappropriate care, controlling geographic variations in practice patterns, and making effective use of health care resources. They are not intended to supercede a clinician's professional judgment.

The article, "Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis," is currently available online at http://www.rheumatology.org.

The ACR is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The ACR's 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, held Oct 25 - 29 in New Orleans, will feature more than 2,000 presentations on the pathophysiology, treatment and epidemiology of arthritis and related diseases. For more information, see www.rheumatology.org.

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Please refer to the guidelines for author disclosure statements:

Dr. Kwoh can be reached at 412-383-8000Dr. Anderson can be reached at (207) 774-5761Dr. Greene can be reached at (617) 323-7700Dr. Johnson can be reached at (323) 226-7888Dr. O'Dell can be reached at (402) 559-7288lDr. Robbins can be reached at (617) 629-6250Dr. Roberts can be reached at (804) 828-3352Dr. Simms can be reached at (617) 638-4312Dr. Yood can be reached at (508) 856-9596