Premium
Items for developing revised classification criteria in systemic sclerosis: Results of a consensus exercise
Author(s) -
Fransen Jaap,
Johnson Sindhu R.,
van den Hoogen Frank,
Baron Murray,
Allanore Yannick,
Carreira Patricia E.,
Czirják László,
Denton Christopher P.,
Distler Oliver,
Furst Daniel E.,
Gabrielli Armando,
Herrick Ariane,
Inanc Murat,
Kahaleh Bashar,
KowalBielecka Otylia,
Medsger Thomas A.,
MuellerLadner Ulf,
Riemekasten Gabriela,
Sierakowski Stanislaw,
Valentini Gabriele,
Veale Doug,
Vonk Madelon C.,
Walker Ulrich,
Chung Lorinda,
Clements Philip J.,
Collier David H.,
Csuka Mary E.,
Jimenez Sergio,
Merkel Peter A.,
Seibold James R.,
Silver Richard,
Steen Virginia,
Tyndall Alan,
MatucciCerinic Marco,
Pope Janet E.,
Khanna Dinesh
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
arthritis care and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.032
H-Index - 163
eISSN - 2151-4658
pISSN - 2151-464X
DOI - 10.1002/acr.20679
Subject(s) - delphi method , medicine , delphi , physical therapy , ranking (information retrieval) , rheumatism , statistics , information retrieval , computer science , mathematics , operating system
Abstract Objective Classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) are being updated. Our objective was to select a set of items potentially useful for the classification of SSc using consensus procedures, including the Delphi and nominal group techniques (NGT). Methods Items were identified through 2 independent consensus exercises performed by the Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium and the European League Against Rheumatism Scleroderma Trials and Research Group. The first‐round items from both exercises were collated and redundancies were removed, leaving 168 items. A 3‐round Delphi exercise was performed using a 1–9 scale (where 1 = completely inappropriate and 9 = completely appropriate) and a consensus meeting using NGT was conducted. During the last Delphi round, the items were ranked on a 1–10 scale. Results In round 1, 106 experts rated the 168 items. Those with a median score of <4 were removed, resulting in a list of 102 items. In round 2, the items were again rated for appropriateness and subjected to a consensus meeting using NGT by European and North American SSc experts (n = 16), resulting in 23 items. In round 3, SSc experts (n = 26) then individually scored each of the 23 items in a last Delphi round using an appropriateness score (1–9) and ranking their 10 most appropriate items for the classification of SSc. Presence of skin thickening, SSc‐specific autoantibodies, abnormal nailfold capillary pattern, and Raynaud's phenomenon ranked highest in the final list that also included items indicating internal organ involvement. Conclusion The Delphi exercise and NGT resulted in a set of 23 items for the classification of SSc that will be assessed for their discriminative properties in a prospective study.