New recommendations for treating SLE: EULAR

Twelve consensus statements to manage key issues around the prognosis, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) have been published by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). "We sought to develop evidenced-based recommendations addressing the major issues in the management of SLE", write Dr G Bertsias (University of Crete School of Medicine) and colleagues. The group add, "Because of the systemic nature of the disease, multiple medical specialties are involved in the care of these patients. To avoid fragmentation and optimize management there is a presently unmet need to establish an integrated approach based on widely accepted principles and evidence-based recommendations." The EULAR Task Force comprised 19 specialists and a clinical epidemiologist. Key questions for the management of SLE were compiled using an established approach of combining research-based evidence and expert consensus. The 12 areas addressed by the EULAR guidelines fit under the headings of general management (prognosis, monitoring, comorbidities, treatment, and adjunct therapy), neuropsychiatric lupus (diagnosis and treatment), pregnancy in lupus, APS, and lupus nephritis (monitoring, treatment, and end-stage renal disease). The Task Force evaluated and scored the evidence to support each proposition. After discussion and votes, the final recommendations were distilled into brief statements. The 12 recommendations can be accessed from the EULAR homepage Reference Bertsias, G. Ioannidis, J. Boletis, B. et al. 2007. ‘EULAR recommendations for the management of Systemic Lupus Erytematosus (SLE) Report of a Task Force of the European Standing Committee for International Clinical Studies Including Therapeutics (ESCISIT)’. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Online First. Volume and Edition to be announced....