Publications

Clinical Guidelines & Position Statements

Publication Date
NEW: CRA Position Statement on Quebec’s Bill 2 : Protecting Rheumatology Care and Physician Well-being PDF November 2025
NEW: CRA/CanRIO guidelines for the management of baseline immunosuppression in individuals with pre-existing rheumatic diseases initiating immune checkpoint inhibitors.

  • Click here to view Part 1 in the Journal of Rheumatology (Part 1 includes recommendations for pre-existing inflammatory arthritides -rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis)
  • Click here to view Part 2 in the Journal of Rheumatology (Part 2 includes recommendations for pre-existing systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases -systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögen’s disease, myositis, vasculitis, Behcet’s disease, sarcoidosis)
  • Click here to read the CRA/CanRIO guideline for the management of baseline immunosuppression in individuals with pre-existing rheumatic diseases initiating immune checkpoint inhibitors on MagicApp
 September 2025
NEW: Canadian Rheumatology Association Guidance for Developing & Endorsing Quality Measures to Support Learning Health Systems

 June 2025
UPDATED: Canadian Rheumatology Association Guidelines Handbook PDF June 2025
UPDATED: CRA Position Statement on Safety of Hydroxychloroquine in the Treatment of Rheumatic Diseases PDF March 2025
Canadian Rheumatology Association/Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Living Guideline for the Management of Axial Spondyloarthritis

  • Click here to view the original manuscript of the guideline in Journal of Rheumatology (August 1, 2024)
  • Click here to view the latest version of the Guideline on MAGICApp
 August 2024
UPDATED: CRA living guidelines for the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

  • Click here to view the latest version of the guideline on MAGICapp
  • Published versions of the guideline in Journal of Rheumatology:
  • Click here to view patient decision aid: Your Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is Well Controlled with a Biologic or Targeted Medicine: Should you Take Less Medicine?
 July 2024
Canadian Rheumatology Association Position Statement on  PDE5 inhibitors for the treatment of severe Raynaud’s Phenomenon PDF July 2024
Canadian Rheumatology Association Position Statement on Biologic Access PDF June 2024
Canadian Rheumatology Association Position Statement on National Pharmacare PDF June 2024
Position Statements on Priority Areas to Support the Sustainability of the Canadian Rheumatology Workforce PDF December 2022
The CRA living guidelines for the Screening, Monitoring and Treatment of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis-Associated Uveitis.

  • Click here to view on MAGICapp
  • Click here to view published manuscript in the Journal of Rheumatology
  • Click here to view the infographics designed for providers.
  • Click here to view the infographic designed for patient families
 October 2022
Bridging the Gaps: Optimizing the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Rheumatology Care PDF July 2022
Updated CRA Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination PDF March 2022
CRA Recommendation on Three Doses of mRNA Vaccine for Preventing COVID-19 PDF November 2021
Updated CRA Recommendation on COVID-19 Vaccination in Persons with Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease PDF
– Decision Tool available here		 November 2021
CRA Consensus Statement on the Best Practices for Virtual Care in Rheumatology
– Transitioning Care – New ‘Living’ Resource for CRA Members		 September 2021
CRA Position Statement on Virtual Care PDF April 2021
CRA Position Statement on COVID-19 and Hydroxychloroquine Supply PDF
– Frequently Asked Questions		 April 2020
Canadian Rheumatology Association Policy on Potential Conflicts of Interest in the Guideline Development Process  PDF June 2019
Canadian Rheumatology Association Position Statement on Medical Cannabis Use in Rheumatic Disease
– Frequently Asked Questions		 January 2019
Canadian Recommendations for the Assessment and Monitoring of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus August 2018
Canadian Position Statement on Opioid Therapy PDF November 2017
Canadian Position Statement on Management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis October 2016
Canadian Review on Cannabinoid Treatments for Rheumatic Diseases  November 2015
Canadian Recommendations for the Management of Spondyloarthropathy April 2014
Cardiovascular Risk with Diclofenac:  Response to Health Canada PDF
Reviewed by Therapeutics Committee in November 2021 and no changes made.		 November 2014
Chronic pain, Diclofenac and Cardiovascular Risk:  Management Algorithm PDF June 2014
Canadian Confidence with Cannabinoids in Rheumatic Diseases:  A Survey of Rheumatologists PDF November 2014
Canadian Recommendations for Management of RA August 2012