Bibliography of Criteria, Guidelines, and Health Status Assessments Used in Rheumatology

This resource is continually developed as additional references, links, and downloadable files become available for inclusion.

Note that the American College of Rheumatology is not the originator of many of these disease activity measures, indices, questionnaires, and criteria. Inclusion of a reference in this bibliography should not be construed as an endorsement by the ACR, except as indicated otherwise. This bibliography is not intended to be exhaustive; however, new references will be added from time to time.

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  • Radiographic Scoring Systems:
    • Atlas of Standard Radiographs of Arthritis:
      • US Publication of the Atlas of Standard Radiographs (book citation):
        Department of Rheumatology and Medical Illustration, University of Manchester. Atlas of standard radiographs of arthritis. Vol. II. The epidemiology of chronic rheumatism. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 1963.
      • European Publication of the Atlas of Standard Radiographs (book citation):
        Kellgren JH, editor. Atlas of standard radiographs of arthritis. Vol. II. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific; 1963.
        or
        Kellgren JH, Lawrence JS, editors. The epidemiology of chronic rheumatism: atlas of standard radiographs of arthritis. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific; 1963.
      • European Publication of the Atlas of Standard Radiographs (chapter within the book):
        Kellgren JH. Atlas of standard radiographs of arthritis: report of the Subcommittee on Standardization of X-ray Methods. In: Kellgren JH, editor. The epidemiology of chronic rheumatism. Vol. II. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific; 1963.
    • Atlas for Radiographic Features of Osteoarthritis (OA):
      Altman RD, Hochberg M, Murphy WA Jr, Wolfe F, Lequesne M. Atlas of individual radiographic features in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1995;3 Suppl A:3-70.
    • Atlas for Radioanatomic Positioning of the Knee, The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) protocols:
      Buckland-Wright CB. Protocols for precise radio-anatomical positioning of the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral compartments of the knee. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1995;3 Suppl A:71-80.
    • Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) Scale:
      Kellgren JH, Lawrence JS. Radiological assessment of osteoarthrosis. Ann Rheum Dis 1957;16:494-501.
    • Larsen Scale:
      • Larsen Scale for Grading Radiographs in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
        Larsen A. Radiological grading of rheumatoid arthritis: an interobserver study. Scand J Rheumatol 1973;2:136-8.
      • Larsen Grading of Standard Reference Radiographs:
        Larsen A, Dale K, Eek M. Radiographic evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions by standard reference films. Acta Radiol 1977;18:481-91.
    • Poznanski Score:
      Poznanski AK. Radiological approaches to pediatric joint disease. J Rheumatol Suppl 1992;33:78-93.
    • Radiographic Atlas of Osteoarthritis (OA):
      Burnett S, Hart DJ, Cooper C, Spector TD. A radiographic atlas of osteoarthritis. London: Springer-Verlag; 1994.
    • Ratingen Method for Scoring Radiographs in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
      Rau R, Wassenberg S, Herborn G, Stucki G, Gebler A. A new method of scoring radiographic change in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 1998;25:2094–107.
    • Reference Atlas for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Changes in Muscle in Juvenile Dermatomyositis (DM):
      Kimball AB, Summers RM, Turner M, Dugan EM, Hicks J, Miller FW, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging detection of occult skin and subcutaneous abnormalities in juvenile dermatomyositis: implications for diagnosis and therapy. Arthritis Rheum 2000;43:1866-73.
    • Sharp Scoring System:
      • Sharp Method for Scoring Radiographic Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
        Sharp JT, Lidsky MD, Collins LC, Moreland J. Methods of scoring the progression of radiologic changes in rheumatoid arthritis: correlation of radiologic, clinical and laboratory abnormalities. Arthritis Rheum 1971;14:706–20.
      • Modified Sharp/van der Heijde Method Score (SHS) for Scoring Radiographs:
        Van der Heijde DM, van Riel PL, Nuver-Zwart IH, Gribnau FW, van de Putte LB. Effects of hydroxychloroquine and sulphasalazine on progression of joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet 1989;1:1036–8.
      • Sharp Scoring System for Radiographic Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
        Sharp JT, Young DY, Bluhm GB, Brook A, Brower AC, Corbett M, et al. How many joints in the hands and wrists should be included in a score of radiologic abnormalities used to assess rheumatoid arthritis? Arthritis Rheum 1985;28:1326-35.
  • Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR) Questionnaire:
    Mason JH, Anderson JJ, Meenan RF, Haralson KM, Lewis-Stevens D, Kaine JL. The Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR) questionnaire: validity and sensitivity to change of a patient self-report measure of joint count and clinical status. Arthritis Rheum 1992;35:156–62.
  • Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) Criteria:
    Brennan P, Silman A, Black C, Bernstein R, Coppock J, Maddison P, et al, the UK Scleroderma Study Group. Validity and reliability of three methods used in the diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon. Br J Rheumatol 1993:32:357-61.
  • Reiter's Syndrome (RS), ACR Criteria (also called Reactive Arthritis [ReA]):
    Willkens RF, Arnett FC, Bitter T, Calin A, Fisher L, Ford DK, et al. Reiter's syndrome: evaluation of preliminary criteria for definite disease. Arthritis Rheum 1981;24:844-9.
  • Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) Criteria:
    Michet CJ Jr, McKenna CH, Luthra HS, O'Fallon WM. Relapsing polychondritis: survival and predictive role of early disease manifestations. Ann Intern Med 1986;104:74–8.
  • Rheumatic Diseases, ACR Criteria:
    Fries JF, Hochberg MC, Medsger TA Jr, Hunder GG, Bombardier C, and the American College of Rheumatology Diagnostic and Therapeutic Criteria Committee. Criteria for rheumatic disease: different types and different functions. Arthritis Rheum 1994;37:454–62.
  • Rheumatic Fever (see Jones Criteria for Rheumatic Fever)
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
    • Criteria for RA:
      • ACR 1958 Criteria for RA:
        Ropes MW, Bennett GA, Cobb S, Jacox R, Jessar RA. 1958 revision of diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Bull Rheum Dis 1958;9:175-6.
      • ACR 1987 Criteria for RA (RA criteria) (RA criteria tree format):
        Arnett FC, Edworthy SM, Bloch DA, McShane DJ, Fries JF, Cooper NS, et al. The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1988;31:315-24.
      • 2010 ACR/EULAR Criteria for RAAdobe Acrobat PDF icon [American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2010 Classification Criteria]:
        Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J, Felson DT, Bingham CO III, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum 2010;62:2569–81.
        or (as published simultaneously in Ann Rheum Dis)
        Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J, Felson DT, Bingham CO III, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:1580–8.
        • Methodology for the 2010 ACR/EULAR Criteria for RA:
          • Phase 1:
            Funovits J, Aletaha D, Bykerk V, Combe B, Dougados M, Emery P, et al. The 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: methodological report phase 1. Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:1589–95.
          • Phase 2:
            Neogi T, Aletaha D, Silman AJ, Naden RL, Felson DT, Aggarwal R, et al. The 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: phase 2 methodological report. Arthritis Rheum 2010;62:2582–91.
      • Clinical Remission in RA:
        • ACR Preliminary Criteria for Clinical Remission in RA:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Pinals RS, Masi AT, Larsen RA, and the Subcommittee for Criteria of Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis of the American Rheumatism Association Diagnostic and Therapeutic Criteria Committee. Preliminary criteria for clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1981;24:1308–15.
        • ACR/EULAR Consensus Criteria for Remission in RA:
          Van Tuyl LH, Vlad SC, Felson DT, Wells G, Boers M. Defining remission in rheumatoid arthritis: results of an initial American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Consensus Conference. Arthritis Rheum 2009;61:704–10.
        • ACR/EULAR Provisional Definition of Remission in RA Clinical Trials:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Felson DT, Smolen JS, Wells G, Zhang B, van Tuyl LH, Funovits J, et al. American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism provisional definition of remission in rheumatoid arthritis for clinical trials. Arthritis Rheum 2011;63:573–86.
          or (as published simultaneously in Ann Rheum Dis)
          Felson DT, Smolen JS, Wells G, Zhang B, van Tuyl LH, Funovits J, et al. American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism provisional definition of remission in rheumatoid arthritis for clinical trials. Ann Rheum Dis 2011;70:404–13.
      • ACR 1991 Revised Criteria for Global Functional Status in RA [for RA global functional status; classes I–IV]:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
        Hochberg MC, Chang RW, Dwosh I, Lindsey S, Pincus T, Wolfe F. The American College of Rheumatology 1991 revised criteria for the classification of global functional status in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1992;35:498-502.
      • 1961 Rome Criteria for RA:
        Kellgren JH, Jeffrey MR, Ball JF, editors. The epidemiology of chronic rheumatism. Vol. I. Philadelphia: FA Davis; 1963.
      • Steinbrocker Criteria for RA [for RA stage/progression:  stages I–IV]:
        Steinbrocker O, Traeger CH, Batterman RC. Therapeutic criteria in rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA 1949;140:659-62.
    • ACR Guidelines/Recommendations for RA:
      • Medical Management of RA:
        • 1996 Guidelines:
          American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Committee on Clinical Guidelines. Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:713–22
        • 2002 Update:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          American College of Rheumatology Subcommittee on Rheumatoid Arthritis Guidelines. Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis: 2002 update. Arthritis Rheum 2002;46:328–46.
      • Monitoring Drug Therapy in RA:
        American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Committee on Clinical Guidelines. Guidelines for monitoring drug therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:723–31.
      • Monitoring Liver Toxicity (with Methotrexate Treatment) in RA:
        Kremer JM, Alarcon GS, Lightfoot RW Jr, Willkens RF, Furst DE, Williams HJ, et al. Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis: suggested guidelines for monitoring liver toxicity. Arthritis Rheum 1994;37:316-28.
      • Use of Nonbiologic and Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) in RA:
        • 2008 Recommendations:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Saag KG, Teng GG, Patkar NM, Anuntiyo J, Finney C, Curtis JR, et al. American College of Rheumatology 2008 recommendations for the use of nonbiologic and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2008;59:762–84.
        • 2012 Update:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Singh JA, Furst DE, Bharat A, Curtis JR, Kavanaugh AF, Kremer JM, et al. 2012 update of the 2008 American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologic agents in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2012;64:625–39.
      • 2010 Recommendations for Treating RA to Target [The primary target being clinical remission]:
        Smolen JS, Aletaha D, Bijlsma JW, Breedveld FC, Boumpas D, Burmester G, et al, for the T2T Expert Committee. Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: recommendations of an international task force. Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:631–7.
    • Criteria for Improvement in RA:
      • ACR Preliminary Definition of Improvement in RAAdobe Acrobat PDF icon [The ACR 20%, 50%, 70% response criteria]:
        Felson DT, Anderson JJ, Boers M, Bombardier C, Furst D, Goldsmith C, et al. American College of Rheumatology preliminary definition of improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:727-35.
      • Proposed Revision of the ACR20 Improvement Criteria:
        American College of Rheumatology Committee to Reevaluate Improvement Criteria. A proposed revision to the ACR20: the hybrid measure of American College of Rheumatology response. Arthritis Rheum 2007;57:193–202.
      • ACR-N Index of Improvement in RA:
        Schiff M, Weaver A, Keystone E, Moreland L, Spencer-Green G. Comparison of ACR response, numeric ACR, and ACR AUC as measures of clinical improvement in RA clinical trials [abstract]. Arthritis Rheum 1999;42 Suppl:S81.
      • Paulus Criteria for Improvement in RAAdobe Acrobat PDF icon [The Paulus 20% (and 50%) response criteria]:
        Paulus HE, Egger MJ, Ward JR, Williams HJ, and the Cooperative Systematic Studies of Rheumatic Diseases Group. Analysis of improvement in individual rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, based on the findings in patients treated with placebo. Arthritis Rheum 1990;33:477-84.
    • Outcome/Disease Activity Measures in RA:
      • Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue (BRAF) Questionnaire:
        Nicklin J, Cramp F, Kirwan J, Greenwood R, Urban M, Hewlett S. Measuring fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study to evaluate the Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multi-Dimensional Questionnaire, visual analog scales, and numerical rating scales. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2010;62:1559–68.
      • Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI):
        Aletaha D, Nell VP, Stamm T, Uffmann M, Pflugbeil S, Machold K, et al. Acute phase reactants add little to composite disease activity indices for rheumatoid arthritis: validation of a clinical activity score. Arthritis Res Ther 2005;7:R796–806.
      • Disease Activity Measures in RA Clinical Practice, ACR Recommendations:
        Anderson J, Caplan L, Yazdany J, Robbins ML, Neogi T, Michaud K, et al. Rheumatoid arthritis disease activity measures: American College of Rheumatology recommendations for use in clinical practice. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2012;64:640–7.
      • Disease Activity Measures in RA Clinical Trials, Preliminary Core Set:Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
        Felson DT, Anderson JJ, Boers M, Bombardier C, Chernoff M, Fried B, et al. The American College of Rheumatology preliminary core set of disease activity measures for rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials. Arthritis Rheum 1993;36:729-40.
      • EULAR/ACR Guidelines for Reporting Disease Activity in RA Clinical Trials:
        Aletaha D, Landewe R, Karonitsch T, Bathon J, Boers M, Bombardier C, et al. Reporting disease activity in clinical trials of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: EULAR/ACR collaborative recommendations. Arthritis Rheum 2008;59:1371–7.
        or (as published simultaneously in Ann Rheum Dis)
        Aletaha D, Landewe R, Karonitsch T, Bathon J, Boers M, Bombardier C, et al. Reporting disease activity in clinical trials of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: EULAR/ACR collaborative recommendations. Ann Rheum Dis 2008;67:1360–4.
      • Disease Activity Score (DAS) for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA):
        • DAS:
          Van der Heijde DM, van 't Hof MA, van Riel PL, Theunisse LM, Lubberts EW, van Leeuwen MA, et al. Judging disease activity in clinical practice in rheumatoid arthritis: first step in the development of a disease activity score. Ann Rheum Dis 1990;49:916-20.
        • Modified DAS (DAS28):Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Prevoo MLL, van 't Hof MA, Kuper HH, van Leeuwen MA, van de Putte LB, van Riel PL. Modified disease activity scores that include twenty-eight-joint counts: development and validation in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:44-8.
        • European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Response CriteriaAdobe Acrobat PDF icon [NOTE: Some call this the WHO/ILAR Core Data Set, but the primary reference for that data set appears below]:
          Van Gestel AM, Prevoo ML, van 't Hof MA, van Rijswijk MH, van de Putte LB, van Riel PL. Development and validation of the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria for rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with the preliminary American College of Rheumatology and the World Health Organization/International League Against Rheumatism criteria. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:34-40.
        • Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT):
          Tugwell P, Boers M. OMERACT conference on outcome measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials: introduction. J Rheumatol 1992;20:528-30.
        • Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) 6 MR Imaging:
          McQueen F, Lassere M, Edmonds J, Conaghan P, Peterfy C, Bird P, et al. OMERACT rheumatoid arthritis magnetic resonance imaging studies: summary of OMERACT 6 MR imaging module. J Rheumatol 2003;30:1387–92.
        • Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Rheumatoid Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Image Scoring System (RAMRIS):
          Ostergaard M, Peterfy C, Conaghan P, McQueen F, Bird P, Ejbjerg B, et al. OMERACT rheumatoid arthritis magnetic resonance imaging studies: core set of MRI acquisitions, joint pathology definitions, and the OMERACT RA-MRI scoring system. J Rheumatol 2003;30:1385–6.
        • Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI):Adobe Acrobat PDF icon
          Stucki G, Liang MH, Stucki S, Bruhlmann P, Michel BA. A self-administered Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI) for epidemiologic research: psychometric properties and correlation with parameters of disease activity. Arthritis Rheum 1995;38:795–8.
        • Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID) Questionnaire:
          Gossec L, Paternotte S, Aanerud GJ, Balanescu A, Boumpas DT, Carmona L, et al. Finalisation and validation of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease score, a patient-derived composite measure of impact of rheumatoid arthritis: a EULAR initiative. Ann Rheum Dis 2011;70:935–42.
        • Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life (RAQoL) Questionnaire:
          De Jong Z, van der Heijde D, McKenna SP, Whalley D. The reliability and construct validity of the RAQoL: a rheumatoid arthritis-specific quality of life instrument. Br J Rheumatol 1997;36:878–83.
        • Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID-3):
          Pincus T, Yazici Y, Bergman M, Maclean R, Harrington T. A proposed continuous quality improvement approach to assessment and management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis without formal joint counts, based on quantitative Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID) scores on a Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ). Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2007;21:789–804.
        • Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI):
          Smolen JS, Breedveld FC, Schiff MH, Kalden JR, Emery P, Eberl G, et al. A Simplified Disease Activity Index for rheumatoid arthritis for use in clinical practice. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2003;42:244–57.
        • World Health Organization/International League of Associations for Rheumatology (WHO/ILAR) Response Criteria:
          Furst DE. Considerations on measuring decreased inflammatory synovitis. ILAR Bull 1994;2:17-21.
      • Quality Measures in RA:
        • Assessment of the ACR Quality Criteria for RA:
          Kahn KL, MacLean CH, Wong L, Rubenstein LZ, Liu H, Fitzpatrick DM, et al. Assessment of American College of Rheumatology Quality Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Pre–Quality Criteria Patient Cohort. Arthritis Rheum 2007;57:707–15.
        • ACR Quality Indicators for RA:
          Adhikesavan LG, Newman ED, Diehl MP, Wood GC, Bili A. American College of Rheumatology quality indicators for rheumatoid arthritis: benchmarking, variability, and opportunities to improve quality of care using the electronic health record. Arthritis Rheum 2008;59:1705–12.
      • Work Disability in RA, Prevalence and Incidence in the US:
        Allaire S, Wolfe F, Niu J, LaValley MP. Contemporary prevalence and incidence of work disability associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the US. Arthritis Rheum 2008;59:474–80.
    • Rheumatology (textbook):
      Hochberg MC, Silman AJ, Smolen JS, Weinblatt ME, Weisman MH, editors. Rheumatology. 3rd ed. New York: Mosby; 2003.
    • Rheumatology Reference Style:
      New reference style being implemented for Arthritis & Rheumatism: examples for authors. Arthritis Rheum 1997;40:793.
    • Rheumatology Referral Guidelines:
      Dore RK, Clements PJ, Fox RI, Furst DE, Kaplan H, Kitridou RC: American College of Rheumatology guidelines for rheumatology referral. Atlanta: American College of Rheumatology; 1996.
    • Rheumatology Statistics: Prevalence of Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions in the US:
      • 1998 Data:
        Lawrence RC, Helmick CG, Arnett FC, Deyo RA, Felson DT, Giannini EH, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and selected musculoskeletal disorders in the United States. Arthritis Rheum 1998;41:778-99.
      • 2008 Updates (Parts I and II):
        Helmick CG, Felson DT, Lawrence RC, Gabriel C, Hirsch R, Kwoh CK, et al, for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States: part I. Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:15–25.
        and
        Lawrence RC, Felson DT, Helmick CG, Arnold LM, Choi H, Deyo RA, et al, for the National Arthritis Data Workgroup. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States: part II. Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:26–35.
    • Ritchie Articular Index (RAI):
      Ritchie DM, Boyle JA, McInnes JM, Jasani MK, Dalakos TG, Grieveson P, et al. Clinical studies with an articular index for the assessment of joint tenderness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Q J Med 1968;37:393-406.

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