03
March
2022
|
20:09 PM
America/New_York

ACR guidelines: ‘Turn the pyramid upside down’ for biologic DMARDs in JIA

Healio Rheumatology reports the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released two updated guideline papers for the treatment and management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and included commentary from Karen Brandt Onel, MD, pediatric rheumatologist at HSS and the lead investigator of the guidelines.

Dr. Onel explained, “As rheumatologists, our patients and caregivers expect us to review the literature and weigh the evidence so that we can suggest the best treatments, while also considering their preferences.”

She continued, “These guidelines stress the early use of conventional synthetic and biologic DMARDs and the avoidance of glucocorticoids and NSAIDs. In fact, for systemic JIA the guidelines suggest using biologic DMARDs as a first line. We have turned the pyramid upside down.”

Further, “There were areas that we didn’t consider at the start that now belong. The guidelines will have to be updated again. But that is a sign of a growing and changing field,” Dr. Onel noted.

Read the full article Healio.com

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