Published: 22/10/2024 – last update: 22/10/2024
Producer
SIR-Italian Society of Rheumatology
Abstract
Although the joints represent the main localization of clinical manifestations in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), extra-articular involvement is not uncommon. The lungs are one of the main extra-articular sites that may be involved in RA, with interstitial lung disease (IP) as the most common form of respiratory complication.
AR-IP consists of an inflammation with possible fibrotic evolution of the pulmonary interstitial spaces which can lead to respiratory failure and an increased risk of infections and cardiac complications. The latest EULAR recommendations for the management of RA have not specifically addressed the treatment of RA-PH and there are numerous unmet needs in the management of patients with RA-PH, only partially filled by the evidence available in the literature. Given these premises, it is easy to understand how it is necessary to have shared recommendations on this topic.
Therefore, in the absence of national and European guidelines regarding the treatment of AR-PH, the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) has decided to develop national guidelines for clinical practice on the management of patients suffering from AR-PH in accordance with the requirements of the National System of Guidelines (SNLG) of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS).
The development process included a systematic review of the available evidence and its adaptability to the Italian context, followed by consultation with experts in rheumatology, pulmonology, radiology and representatives of healthcare professions and patients.
These guidelines represent a fundamental step to improve health management in patients with rheumatological diseases in Italy, providing specific and evidence-based indications for the prevention and treatment of AR-PH. Their use is intended to promote health and reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.
Number of recommendations processed: 15
