Protocol for the Development of the Guidelines for the Genetic Diagnosis of Autoinflammatory Diseases in China

Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) were defined over 20 years ago, and since then, 56 monogenic AIDs have been discovered. Due to the overlapping symptoms, AIDs are prone to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. Different AIDs are characterized by distinct genetic variants, and some AIDs have shown unique genetic characteristics in the Chinese population. Currently, there is no evidence-based guideline for the genetic diagnosis of AIDs in China. To further standardize the early recognition and precision diagnosis of AIDs, it is urgently needed to develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on the genetic diagnosis of AIDs to provide scientific guidance for the clinical management of AIDs. The Chinese Pharmacists Association Rare Diseases Medication Working Committee and the Subspecialty Group of Immunology from the Society of Pediatrics of the Chinese Medical Association have jointly launched a protocol for the development of the Guidelines for the Genetic Diagnosis of Autoinflammatory Diseases in China, which was registered and written following WHO Handbook for Guideline Development with the help of nationwide multidisciplinary experts organized by the Department of Pediatrics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A formal document of the guidelines will be devised and published following the workflow of evidence-based guideline development. This paper introduces the Guidelines for the Genetic Diagnosis of Autoinflammatory Diseases in China, including its background, significance, objectives, target population, guideline users, guideline working group members, and the workflow of guideline development.