The Guideline and Quick Reference Guide are available to download in Acrobat pdf format (info). Quick Reference Guide (84K) Guideline (529K).

• Key to evidence statements and grades of recommendations
• Guideline development group
• Notes for users of the guideline
• Abbreviations
• Summary of recommendations

1. Introduction
   1.1 Background
   1.2 The need for a guideline
   1.3 Remit
   1.4 Grading of recommendations
2. Diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis
   2.1 Clinical features
   2.2 Investigation
   2.3 Prognostic features in early RA
3. Principles of treatment
   3.1 Early initiation of treatment
   3.2 Multidisciplinary team approach
   3.3 Patient education
   3.4 Assessment of response to treatment
   3.5 Hospital admission
   3.6 Cost of untreated disease
4. Pharmacological management
   4.1 Analgesics
   4.2 Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
   4.3 Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
   4.4 Targeted immunotherapy
   4.5 Intra-articular corticosteroids
   4.6 Systemic corticosteroids - oral and parenteral
   4.7 Complementary medicine
   4.8 Other therapies
5. The role of the multidisciplinary team
   5.1 Occupational therapy
   5.2 Physiotherapy
   5.3 Splinting
   5.4 Podiatry
   5.5 Dietetics

Annexes

1. Details of systematic review undertaken for the guideline
2. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of RA
3. Criteria for complete remission in RA
4. Health assessment questionnaire
5. Evaluation of DMARD effect - American College of Rheumatology improvement criteria
6. Drug interactions with NSAIDs and DMARDs
7. Magnitude of response to DMARDs
8. Recommendations for further research
9. Key messages for patients
10. Patient information
11. Useful organisations/support groups

References