RESEARCH - Follow-up standards and treatment targets in RA: results of a questionnaire at the EULAR 2008

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2009 Apr 22.

Follow-up standards and treatment targets in Rheumatoid Arthritis

(RA): Results of a questionnaire at the EULAR 2008.

Schoels M, Aletaha D, Smolen JS, Bijlsma JW, Burmester GR, Breedveld

FC, Cutolo M, Combe B, Dougados M, Emery P, Kalden J, Keystone E,

Kvien TK, Mola E, Montecucco C, De Wit M.

2nd Dept. of Medicine, Hietzing Hospital, Vienna, Austria.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic approaches to rheumatoid arthritis have

undergone significant changes. The importance of tight control and

early therapy, rapidly altered if goals are not achieved, is supported

by evidence. However, it is unknown to which extent these insights are

accepted by practitioners in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: We intended to learn about standard follow-up and treatment

practices, and rheumatologists' aims in the care of RA patients.

METHODS: We conducted a survey at the 2008 EULAR Congress. RESULTS:

Most specialists who were mainly from Europe and Latin America are

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 therapy otherwise. Disease activity assessment

by composite measures is performed by a majority, although one third

preferentially relied upon their judgement.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest the acceptance of ambitious

treatment concepts in practice. While voluntary surveys have

limitations, the answers reflect wide-spread adoption of desirable

standards of care.

PMID: 19389716

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19389716

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