In early June, the ACR released an updated guideline on the management of rheumatoid arthritis, which includes new recommendations for specific high-risk groups.1 The guideline includes 44 recommendations—seven of which are strong and 37 conditional. It underscores the role of methotrexate as a cornerstone therapy and emphasizes minimizing glucocorticoids, when possible. Guideline Development Process At…
The ACR, in concert with the Vasculitis Foundation, released three new vasculitis guidelines online first in July, with a fourth slated for publication by the end of the year. These are the first ever to be produced and endorsed by the ACR and the Vasculitis Foundation. Although most of the recommendations are conditional, due to…
As we emerge from the grips of a global pandemic, we are taking this opportunity to pause and reflect on the ARP and what our division brings to the care of our patients. I found the words of Amanda Gordon’s inaugural reading of her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” inspirational and instructive for our past,…
Since 1991, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been a staple for the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus; it has been shown to improve survival, reduce cardiovascular risk, thrombosis and renal damage, delay or prevent lupus cerebritis and more. However, HCQ can potentially bind in the retinal pigment epithelium and cause degeneration of photoreceptors, leading to…
Treating RA can be complicated, especially if the patient is suffering from comorbidities. In a session at ACR Convergence 2020, experts discussed the development of a new ACR draft guideline for RA management & how it can be applied in real-life clinical practice.
ACR Convergence 2020—In May 2020, the ACR published its updated guideline for the management of gout.1 It followed on the heels of a 2017 gout guideline published by the American College of Physicians.2 Although the guidelines provide similar recommendations on the treatment of acute gout, they differ importantly in the use of uric acid-lowering therapy…
The ACR publishes multiple types of documents to provide guidance for its members, but some potentially beneficial topics have not fit neatly into existing production pathways. To answer the need, the ACR has formed a Guidance Subcommittee to the Quality of Care (QOC) Committee. This will allow the ACR to adapt more nimbly, when appropriate,…
The umbrella term crystalline disease covers arthritic conditions caused by deposition of crystals and associated inflammatory response, including erythema, edema and intense pain. The two most common crystal-induced arthropathies are gout, an arthritis secondary to inflammation caused by the presence of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals formed through high levels of serum urate, and calcium pyrophosphate…
Note: This article was updated July 21 to add recommendations on restarting biologics following COVID-19. On April 29, the ACR released Guidance for the Management of Adult Patients with Rheumatic Disease During the COVID‐19 Pandemic and later updated the guidance for publication in Arthritis & Rheumatology. The recommendations address various treatment options and provide general…
The ACR has developed two new clinical guidance documents for pediatric patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.