Summary

The European League Against Rheumatism Standing Committee on International Clinical Studies, including Therapeutic Trials regularly establishes and publishes evidence-based recommendations for the management of rheumatic disorders, as well as recommendation for conducting/reporting clinical trials. Each of these recommendations is developed by a combined approach involving both review of available research evidence and expert consensus; incorporation of a third type of evidence – patient opinion – is now undertaken for management recommendations. This article discusses several new and revised recommendations.