The Taiwan College of Rheumatology Consensus for the Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibits diverse clinical presentations and requires regionally specific management strategies. Building upon established international guidelines, the Taiwan College of Rheumatology developed the first set of recommendations for SLE management to focus on the unmet needs of clinical practice in Taiwan. This consensus aims to empower healthcare professionals and optimize patient outcomes in Taiwan. Rheumatologists from various practicing institutions formed a 15-member panel and, through a modified Delphi process, developed consensus statements that encompass various aspects of SLE care in Taiwan, including screening and diagnosis, disease monitoring, treatment strategies, and pregnancy. The expert panel reviewed and refined statements through two meetings with anonymous voting based on a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus is defined as ≥ 75% agreement to the proposed statements. In total, 32 statements achieved consensus. These statements incorporate the latest scientific evidence with insights from Taiwanese experts to address the unique disease characteristics and challenges faced by patients in the region, and could serve as a guide to specialists, family physicians, specialty nurses, and other healthcare professionals in Taiwan for the management of SLE.