ACR, EULAR Classification Criteria for Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Part 1)

Allow me to start a new topic this week and it is all about the classification criteria for granulomatosis with polyangiitis as crafted by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR).
The idea of having classification criteria is to develop and validate revised classification criteria for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).
Experts studied the situation of patients with vasculitis or similar diseases.  The patients 

included in the study went through five stages which are: 

1) identification of candidate criteria items

2) prospective collection of candidate items or data

3) data-driven determination of the number of candidates

4) expert panel review of cases, and 5) derivation of a points-based risk score system for disease classification

The development of this classification helps immensely in the research and development 

of possible better treatment and modalities available for the people who have GPA or even those with similar challenges in their health.

In consideration of this study several patients numbering more than 500 were considered.

Next week we will be touching on the results of this study and a deeper dive into the formulation of the classification criteria.