2024 Update of the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Secondary publication
Masayoshi Harigai, Yuko Kaneko, Eiichi Tanaka, Shintaro Hirata, Hideto Kameda, Kayoko Kaneko, Mitsumasa Kishimoto, Masataka Kohno, Masayo Kojima, Toshihisa Kojima, Akio Morinobu, Ayako Nakajima, Takahiko Sugihara, Mie Fusama, Nobuyuki Yajima, Ryo Yanai, Yutaka Kawahito
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to update the Japan College of Rheumatology Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis (CPG for RA). METHODS: The recommendations were developed based on the evidence published until the end of June 2022 using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. The steering committee, CPG panel, systematic review (SR) group, and SR support team were organised. RESULTS: The treatment goal and drug treatment algorithm required no modifications; however, the footnotes of the drug treatment algorithm were modified. SR of 21 new or updated recommendations for subcutaneous methotrexate (n = 1), biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (n = 1), rituximab (n = 5), Janus kinase inhibitors (n = 6), biosimilars (n = 2), older patients (n = 4), and pregnancy and lactation (n = 2) was conducted. The recommendations for comorbidities and surgery and rehabilitation remained unchanged from the 2020 CPG for RA. CONCLUSIONS: The 2024 CPG for RA, which provide recommendations that reflect the current healthcare environment for rheumatoid arthritis in Japan, can be used effectively as a tool for shared decision-making between rheumatologists and patients in the treatment of RA.