PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 611 - 4 Sep 2010

New classification criteria for RANew criteria for the classification of rheumatoid

arthritis (RA) have been published in the Annals ofRheumatic Diseases.

The new criteria, developed jointly by a workinggroup of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR),replace existing ACR criteria published in 1987.Significantly, the new 2010 criteria focus on the earlydiagnosis and treatment of RA rather than the late-stagefeatures of the disease.

The new criteria classify "definite RA" as: theconfirmed presence of synovitis in at least one joint, theabsence of an alternative diagnosis to explain thesynovitis, and a combined score of ≥ 6 (out of a possible10) from the following four domains: number and sitesof affected joints (score 0-5), serology abnormalities(0–3), increased acute phase response (0–1) andduration of symptoms (0–1).

These criteria "present a new approach with a specificemphasis on identifying patients with a relatively shortduration of symptoms" who may benefit from earlytreatment, according to the working group. The grouprecommends that "clinical trials should henceforth applythese new criteria".Aletaha D, et al. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an AmericanCollege of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborativeinitiative. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 69: 1580-8, No. 9, Sep 2010.Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard.2010.138461 803037799

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 4 Sep 2010 No. 6111173-5503/10/0611-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved