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The start of the new millennium is marked by a substantial progress in the development of rheumatology: pathogenesis of many rheumatic diseases (RDs) was more deeply studied; their diagnostic criteria validated; disease activity indices worked out; the concepts of remission and exacerbation introduced; much attention has been given to the investigations of quality of life in patients. The possibility of pharmacotherapy for immunoinflammatory RDs was extended by the advent of biological agents (BA). The treatment strategy for RDs was also changed. The treat-to-target concept was put forth for rheumatoid arthritis in 2010 and for ankylosing spondylitis later. The project of treat-to-target concept in systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) was launched on the initiative of the world’s leading rheumatologists in January 2013. The result of their work is the treat-to-target-in-SLE recommendations published in 2014 and formulated as 4 basic principles and 11 general recommendations. The purpose of this publication is to provide general characteristics of the basic provisions of the principles and recommendations with commentaries of leading experts discussing characteristics of SLE in the Russian Federation and some debatable and unsolved problems.

The EULAR-2013 Congress took place in Madrid on 12–15 June 2013. The problem of spondyloarthritis (SA) was one of the significant aspects at this scientific forum. It should be primarily pointed out that the congress presented a T2T (treat-to-target) initiative to treat this disease. According to this concept, the main goal of SA therapy, as that for rheumatoid arthritis, is remission or low activity although there is no clear definition of these conditions in SA. A con- siderable amount of time was devoted to the results of recent SA pathogenesis investigations, including the role of interleukin 23. Discussions around the proposed SA classification concerning the criteria for mainly axial and periph- eral SAs and their clinical variety did not cease either. Reports on already well-known and novel treatment options and their efficiency during long term follow up held a prominent position at the congress.

The paper briefly presents some specific characteristics of development of a treat-to-target (T2T) strategy for spondy- loarthritis (SA). The reasons for some inconsistencies between the current concept of SA and the name of the paper presenting the program are described shortly. A complete Russian translation of the T2T strategy for this disease is given and major problems in its development are outlined. The main goal of therapy is shown to achieve clinical remission or low disease activity; however, there has not yet been a final definition of this condition.