RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 EULAR points to consider for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research in rheumatology
JF Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
JO Ann Rheum Dis
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism
SP annrheumdis-2021-221875
DO 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221875
A1 Aurélie Najm
A1 Félicie Costantino
A1 Stefano Alivernini
A1 Alessia Alunno
A1 Elettra Bianchi
A1 Jacqueline Bignall
A1 Brendan Boyce
A1 Juan D Cañete
A1 Francesco Carubbi
A1 Patrick Durez
A1 João Eurico Fonseca
A1 Søren Andreas Just
A1 Raquel Largo
A1 Antonio Manzo
A1 Mark Maybury
A1 Esperanza Naredo
A1 Carl Orr
A1 Costantino Pitzalis
A1 Felice Rivellese
A1 Vasco C Romão
A1 Jef van Rompay
A1 Sander W Tas
A1 Douglas J Veale
A1 Maria-Antonietta D'Agostino
A1 Andrew Filer
YR 2022
UL http://ard.bmj.com/content/early/2022/03/02/annrheumdis-2021-221875.abstract
AB Background Synovial tissue research has become widely developed in several rheumatology centres, however, large discrepancies exist in the way synovial tissue is handled and, more specifically, how data pertaining to biopsy procedure, quality check and experimental results are reported in the literature. This heterogeneity hampers the progress of research in this rapidly expanding field. In that context, under the umbrella of European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, we aimed at proposing points to consider (PtC) for minimal reporting requirements in synovial tissue research.Methods Twenty-five members from 10 countries across Europe and USA met virtually to define the key areas needing evaluation and formulating the research questions to inform a systematic literature review (SLR). The results were presented during a second virtual meeting where PtC were formulated and agreed.Results Study design, biopsy procedures, tissue handling, tissue quality control and tissue outcomes (imaging, DNA/RNA analysis and disaggregation) were identified as important aspects for the quality of synovial tissue research. The SLR interrogated four databases, retrieved 7654 abstracts and included 26 manuscripts. Three OPs and nine PtC were formulated covering the following areas: description of biopsy procedure, overarching clinical design, patient characteristics, tissue handling and processing, quality control, histopathology, transcriptomic analyses and single-cell technologies.Conclusions These PtC provide guidance on how research involving synovial tissue should be reported to ensure a better evaluation of results by readers, reviewers and the broader scientific community. We anticipate that these PtC will enable the field to progress in a robust and transparent manner over the coming years.