Quality of reporting of interventional animal studies in rheumatology: a systematic review using the ARRIVE guidelines

Abstract

Aim: To systematically investigate the quality of reporting of published interventional animal studies in experimental rheumatology. Methods: Original scientific publications in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (ARD) and Arthritis and Rheumatism (A&R) from January to December 2012 were identified. Studies were included if they used animal experimental model(s) and involved a treatment intervention. Data were extracted regarding disease type, animal model, intervention type and funding. Each study was assessed for quality of reporting, using the ARRIVE guidelines as a checklist. Results: Forty-one studies (15 ARD, 26 A&R) were analyzed. Ethics approval was not reported or unclear in 22%. Randomization was not reported or unclear in 82.9% of the papers. Only 19.5% and 9.8% of papers reported attrition rate and important adverse events, respectively. Sample size calculation or allocation method was not reported in any paper. Only one study published negative results. Conclusion: A number of key study design principles are poorly reported in experimental animal research investigating potential treatments in rheumatology. We support the widespread implementation of the ARRIVE guidelines in the rheumatology literature to promote the publication of manuscripts that allow rigorous appraisal of scientific quality.