BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have undergone significant changes. The importance of tight control and early treatment, rapidly altered if goals are not achieved, is supported by evidence. However, it is unknown to what extent these insights are accepted by practitioners in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To obtain information about standard follow-up and treatment practices, and rheumatologists' aims in the care of patients with RA. METHODS: A survey conducted at the 2008 EULAR Congress. RESULTS: Most specialists, who were mainly from Europe and Latin America, were well-informed about recent concepts: two-thirds specified remission as a major goal. The experts attempted to reach treatment aims within 12-14 weeks, altering treatment otherwise. Disease activity assessment by composite measures is performed by a majority, although one-third preferentially relied upon their judgment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the acceptance of ambitious treatment concepts in practice. Although voluntary surveys have limitations, the answers reflect widespread adoption of desirable standards of care.
BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have undergone significant changes. The importance of tight control and early treatment, rapidly altered if goals are not achieved, is supported by evidence. However, it is unknown to what extent these insights are accepted by practitioners in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To obtain information about standard follow-up and treatment practices, and rheumatologists' aims in the care of patients with RA. METHODS: A survey conducted at the 2008 EULAR Congress. RESULTS: Most specialists, who were mainly from Europe and Latin America, were well-informed about recent concepts: two-thirds specified remission as a major goal. The experts attempted to reach treatment aims within 12-14 weeks, altering treatment otherwise. Disease activity assessment by composite measures is performed by a majority, although one-third preferentially relied upon their judgment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the acceptance of ambitious treatment concepts in practice. Although voluntary surveys have limitations, the answers reflect widespread adoption of desirable standards of care.
Authors: Emily J Bacalao; George J Greene; Jennifer L Beaumont; Amy Eisenstein; Azra Muftic; Arthur M Mandelin; David Cella; Eric M Ruderman Journal: Clin Rheumatol Date: 2017-06-26 Impact factor: 2.980
Authors: Josef S Smolen; Robert Landewé; Ferdinand C Breedveld; Maxime Dougados; Paul Emery; Cecile Gaujoux-Viala; Simone Gorter; Rachel Knevel; Jackie Nam; Monika Schoels; Daniel Aletaha; Maya Buch; Laure Gossec; Tom Huizinga; Johannes W J W Bijlsma; Gerd Burmester; Bernard Combe; Maurizio Cutolo; Cem Gabay; Juan Gomez-Reino; Marios Kouloumas; Tore K Kvien; Emilio Martin-Mola; Iain McInnes; Karel Pavelka; Piet van Riel; Marieke Scholte; David L Scott; Tuulikki Sokka; Guido Valesini; Ronald van Vollenhoven; Kevin L Winthrop; John Wong; Angela Zink; Désirée van der Heijde Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: U Mrowietz; K Kragballe; K Reich; P Spuls; C E M Griffiths; A Nast; J Franke; C Antoniou; P Arenberger; F Balieva; M Bylaite; O Correia; E Daudén; P Gisondi; L Iversen; L Kemény; M Lahfa; T Nijsten; T Rantanen; A Reich; T Rosenbach; S Segaert; C Smith; T Talme; B Volc-Platzer; N Yawalkar Journal: Arch Dermatol Res Date: 2010-09-21 Impact factor: 3.017
Authors: Monika Schoels; Rachel Knevel; Daniel Aletaha; Johannes W J Bijlsma; Ferdinand C Breedveld; Dimitrios T Boumpas; Gerd Burmester; Bernard Combe; Maurizio Cutolo; Maxime Dougados; Paul Emery; Desirée van der Heijde; Tom W J Huizinga; Joachim Kalden; Edward C Keystone; Tore K Kvien; Emilio Martin-Mola; Carlomaurizio Montecucco; Maarten de Wit; Josef S Smolen Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Josef S Smolen; Daniel Aletaha; Johannes W J Bijlsma; Ferdinand C Breedveld; Dimitrios Boumpas; Gerd Burmester; Bernard Combe; Maurizio Cutolo; Maarten de Wit; Maxime Dougados; Paul Emery; Alan Gibofsky; Juan Jesus Gomez-Reino; Boulos Haraoui; Joachim Kalden; Edward C Keystone; Tore K Kvien; Iain McInnes; Emilio Martin-Mola; Carlomaurizio Montecucco; Monika Schoels; Désirée van der Heijde; Desirée van der Heijde Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2010-03-09 Impact factor: 19.103