title: Recommendations for the use of biologic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: update from the Italian Society for Rheumatology I. Efficacy.
abstract: Given the availability of novel biologic agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), various national scientific societies have developed specific recommendations in order to assist rheumatologists in prescribing these drugs. The Italian Society for Rheumatology (Società Italiana di Reumatologia, SIR) decided to update its recommendations and, to this end, a systematic literature review was carried out and the evidence derived from it was discussed and summarised as expert opinions. Levels of evidence, strength of recommendations and levels of agreement were reported. The recommendations reported are intended to help prescribing rheumatologists to optimise the use of biologic agents in patients with RA seen in everyday practice; they are not to be considered as a regulatory rule.
authors: Division of di Rheumatology, University of Pavia, IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy. caporali@smatteo.pv.it
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Caporali
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Conti
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Alivernini
authors: Fabiola
authors: F
authors: Atzeni
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Seriolo
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Cutolo
authors: Guido
authors: G
authors: Valesini
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: Ferraccioli
authors: Piercarlo
authors: P
authors: Sarzi-Puttini
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Salvarani
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Guiducci
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Zampogna
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Gremese
authors: Nicolo'
authors: N
authors: Pipitone
authors: Rossana
authors: R
authors: Scrivo
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Bugatti
authors: Carlomaurizio
authors: C
authors: Montecucco
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Matucci-Cerinic
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D018579:Patient Selection; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001688:Biological Products