It has been more than 12 months since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) released Clinical Guideline 79 on Management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults. This guidance has generally been well received within the rheumatology profession, as demonstrated in a recent edition of the UK journal, Rheumatology:
‘The NICE review is an exceptional piece of work, assembling vast amounts of information … producing a global evidence base for the assessment and treatment of RA. There is no equivalent single synthesis available elsewhere. Provided that this guidance is treated as guidance rather than as a standard, then it should result in better treatment of RA.’
In the recent eGuidelines summary Dr Louise Warburton explains how awareness of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis needs to be raised in both healthcare professionals and the public.