2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative

D. Aletaha, T. Neogi, A. J. Silman, J. Funovits, D. T. Felson, C. O. Bingham, N. S. Birnbaum, G. R. Burmester, V. P. Bykerk, M. D. Cohen, B. Combe, K. H. Costenbader (+23 others)
2010 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases  
This criteria set has been approved by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Board of Directors and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Executive Committee. This signifies that the criteria set has been quantitatively validated using patient data, and it has undergone validation based on an external data set. All ACR/EULARapproved criteria sets are expected to undergo intermittent updates. The American College of Rheumatology is an independent, professional, medical and
more » ... c society which does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse any commercial product or service. Objective. The 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR; formerly, the American Rheumatism Association) classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been criticized for their lack of sensitivity in early disease. This work was undertaken to develop new classification criteria for RA. Methods. 2569 oped, in 3 phases, a new approach to classifying RA. The work focused on identifying, among patients newly presenting with undifferentiated inflammatory synovitis, factors that best discriminated between those who were and those who were not at high risk for persistent and/or erosive disease-this being the appropriate current paradigm underlying the disease construct "rheumatoid arthritis." Results. In the new criteria set, classification as "definite RA" is based on the confirmed presence of synovitis in at least 1 joint, absence of an alternative diagnosis that better explains the synovitis, and achievement of a total score of 6 or greater (of a possible 10) from the individual scores in 4 domains: number and site of involved joints (score range 0-5), serologic abnormality (score range 0-3), elevated acute-phase response (score range 0-1), and symptom duration (2 levels; range 0-1). Conclusion. This new classification system redefines the current paradigm of RA by focusing on features at earlier stages of disease that are associated with persistent and/or erosive disease, rather than defining the disease by its late-stage features. This will refocus attention on the important need for earlier diagnosis and institution of effective disease-suppressing therapy to prevent or minimize the occurrence of the undesirable sequelae that currently comprise the paradigm underlying the disease construct "rheumatoid arthritis."
doi:10.1136/ard.2010.138461 pmid:20699241 fatcat:zesfudyrmrcy5ifh3mfjffpdey