The management of RA has benefited over the last 15 years from major breakthroughs in the field of drug therapy, including optimization of synthetic CH5424802 research buy DMARD therapy, commercial availability of biological DMARDs, low-dose glucocorticoid therapy, and combinations of drugs belonging to different classes. No less important are the conceptual advances achieved in recent years, which underline the pivotal role for the rheumatologist as the physician of reference for the management of RA, the importance of shared decision-making in which the patient is viewed as a partner, the identification of a therapeutic window, and the desirability of

tight disease control. The SFR recommendations are recapitulated in a simple and easy-to-use algorithm for managing RA (Fig. 1). They are intended for all physicians involved in caring for patients with RA. These new SFR recommendations are consistent with existing ABT-888 manufacturer recommendations [6] and incorporate recently published data [8], [9] and [10]. Nevertheless, they encompass a vaster field than do the European recommendations, since they extend from the diagnosis to global patient management, despite a strong emphasis on treatment. Importantly, the high level of evidence

underlying most of the recommendations results in strong adhesion and high recommendation grades. Nevertheless, a few items rely on expert opinion or on a combination of scientific evidence and expert opinion, indicating a need for a vast array of research projects designed to resolve these points. A number of situations encountered in RA patients continue to raise challenges and warrant continued work to develop new treatments. Several drugs are being developed (e.g., JAK inhibitors, IL-6 JAK inhibitor antagonists, and biosimilars). Thus, the present recommendations reflect currently available scientific evidence and will need to be updated regularly. C.G.V. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, UCB, and Roche-Chugai. L.G. has received honoraria or research

grants from AbbVie, Janssen, MSD, Pfizer, UCB, and Roche-Chugai. A.C. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, Merck, Nordic-Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB. M.D. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB. B.F. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, MSD, Nordic-Pharma, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB. X.M. has received honoraria or research grants from BMS, GSK, Merck, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB. H.N. has received honoraria or research grants from Abbvie, BMS, Pfizer, and Roche-Chugai. A.S. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB. L’ANDAR has received funding from Abbvie, BMS, MSD, Nordic, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB. B.C. has received honoraria or research grants from AbbVie, BMS, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche-Chugai, and UCB.