OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) points to consider (PtCs) for the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA). METHODS: An EULAR Task Force was established comprising 34 individuals: 26 rheumatologists, patient partners and rheumatology experienced health professionals. Two systematic literature reviews addressed clinical questions around diagnostic challenges, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies in D2T RA. PtCs were formulated based on the identified evidence and expert opinion. Strength of recommendations (SoR, scale A-D: A typically consistent level 1 studies and D level 5 evidence or inconsistent studies) and level of agreement (LoA, scale 0-10: 0 completely disagree and 10 completely agree) of the PtCs were determined by the Task Force members. RESULTS: Two overarching principles and 11 PtCs were defined concerning diagnostic confirmation of RA, evaluation of inflammatory disease activity, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, treatment adherence, functional disability, pain, fatigue, goal setting and self-efficacy and the impact of comorbidities. The SoR varied from level C to level D. The mean LoA with the overarching principles and PtCs was generally high (8.4-9.6). CONCLUSIONS: These PtCs for D2T RA can serve as a clinical roadmap to support healthcare professionals and patients to deliver holistic management and more personalised pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic strategies. High-quality evidence was scarce. A research agenda was created to guide future research.

• MeSH
• adherence k farmakoterapii MeSH
• antirevmatika aplikace a dávkování   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• cvičení MeSH
• hepatitida B komplikace   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• hepatitida C komplikace   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• kognitivně behaviorální terapie MeSH
• komorbidita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• revmatoidní artritida komplikace   diagnóza   farmakoterapie   terapie   MeSH
• určení symptomu MeSH
• vzdělávání pacientů jako téma MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• směrnice pro lékařskou praxi MeSH

OBJECTIVES: Patients with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain symptomatic despite treatment according to current European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) management recommendations. These focus on early phases of the disease and pharmacological management. We aimed to identify characteristics of difficult-to-treat RA and issues to be addressed in its workup and management that are not covered by current management recommendations. METHODS: An international survey was conducted among rheumatologists with multiple-choice questions on disease characteristics of difficult-to-treat RA. Using open questions, additional items to be addressed and items missing in current management recommendations were identified. RESULTS: 410 respondents completed the survey: 50% selected disease activity score assessing 28 joints >3.2 OR presence of signs suggestive of active disease as characteristics of difficult-to-treat RA; 42% selected fatigue; 48% selected failure to ≥2 conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) AND ≥2 biological/targeted synthetic DMARDs; 89% selected inability to taper glucocorticoids below 5 mg or 10 mg prednisone equivalent daily. Interfering comorbidities, extra-articular manifestations and polypharmacy were identified as important issues missing in current management recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: There is wide variation in concepts of difficult-to-treat RA. Several important issues regarding these patients are not addressed by current EULAR recommendations.

• MeSH
• komorbidita MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• revmatoidní artritida * komplikace   farmakoterapie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• revmatologové MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH