New therapeutic strategies for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have evolved within the past ten years, and as a result, an update of the 2011 recommendations of the German management guidelines was initiated.
A systemic literature review was performed, overarching principles were proposed and pre-selected via an online survey followed by two multidisciplinary consensus conferences. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments were discussed, statements were proposed and ultimately agreed upon by nominal group technique (NGT).
12 overarching therapeutic principles, as well as 9 recommendations on pharmacological and 5 on non-pharmacological treatments for JIA were agreed upon.
This report summarizes the recent update of the interdisciplinary, consensus-based German guidelines on the management of JIA. The multi- and interdisciplinary participation of all caregivers was central for this patient-focused update. With these guidelines, physicians can choose an evidence-based approach, which allows better tailored treatment in this vulnerable cohort of children and adolescents.