Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: Revision of the 2014 International Expert Group Recommendations

Abstract

The paper presents a new edition (2014) of basic approaches to therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the principle of «Treat to target », which has been elaborated by the experts of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The revised recommendations consider the results of numerous randomized controlled and cohort studies, as well as the data of an extensive systematic review of the literature. The new 2014 version contains 4 basic principles and 10 recommendations for the management of patients with RA. When making the updated recommendations, the experts took into account particularly issues, such as criteria for defining a remission, the need to minimize comorbidities in patients with RA and to individualize its therapy, as well as their working ability. The basic principles in the management of patients with RA, by using a treat-to-target strategy, are discussed in detail and the rewording of the main points of the 2010 recommendations and their new edition are substantiated.