Multinational evidence-based recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up undifferentiated peripheral inflammatory arthritis: integrating systematic literature research and expert opinion of a broad international panel of rheumatologists in the 3E Initiative
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 03:43authored byMachado, P, Castrejon, I, Katchamart, W, Koevoets, R, Kuriya, B, Schoels, M, Silva-Fernandez, L, Thevissen, K, Vercoutere, W, Villeneuve, E, Aletaha, D, Carmona, L, Landewe, R, van der Heijde, D, Bijlsma, JWJ, Bykerk, V, Canhao, H, Catrina, AI, Durez, P, Edwards, CJ, Mjaavatten, MD, Leeb, BF, Losada, B, Martin-Mola, EM, Martinez-Osuna, P, Montecucco, C, Muller-Ladner, U, Ostergaard, M, Sheane, B, Xavier, RM, Zochling, J, Bombardier, C
Objective To develop evidence-based recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up undifferentiated peripheral infl ammatory arthritis (UPIA). Methods 697 rheumatologists from 17 countries participated in the 3E ( E vidence, E xpertise, E xchange) Initiative of 2008–9 consisting of three separate rounds of discussions and modifi ed Delphi votes. In the fi rst round 10 clinical questions were selected. A bibliographic team systematically searched Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library and ACR/EULAR 2007–2008 meeting abstracts. Relevant articles were reviewed for quality assessment, data extraction and synthesis. In the second round each country elaborated a set of national recommendations. Finally, multinational recommendations were formulated and agreement among the participants and the potential impact on their clinical practice was assessed. Results A total of 39 756 references were identifi ed, of which 250 were systematically reviewed. Ten multinational key recommendations about the investigation and follow-up of UPIA were formulated. One recommendation addressed differential diagnosis and investigations prior to establishing the operational diagnosis of UPIA, seven recommendations related to the diagnostic and prognostic value of clinical and laboratory assessments in established UPIA (history and physical examination, acute phase reactants, autoantibodies, radiographs, MRI and ultrasound, genetic markers and synovial biopsy), one recommendation highlighted predictors of persistence (chronicity) and the fi nal recommendation addressed monitoring of clinical disease activity in UPIA. Conclusions Ten recommendations on how to investigate and follow-up UPIA in the clinical setting were developed. They are evidence-based and supported by a large panel of rheumatologists, thus enhancing their validity and practical use.
History
Publication title
Annals of The Rheumatic Diseases: The Eular Journal
Volume
70
Pagination
15-24
ISSN
0003-4967
Department/School
Menzies Institute for Medical Research
Publisher
B M J Publishing Group
Place of publication
British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London, England, Wc1H 9Jr