Overview
Submission Instructions
Recent Publications
Frequently Asked Questions
Research Topics
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LR
The Lancet Rheumatology is a rheumatology journal with ISSN 2665-9913. It publishes content including Reviews, Articles, Comments, Viewpoints, and Correspondence, and features both Open Access articles under the CC BY 4.0 license and other journal content. Reported journal metrics include an Impact Factor of 16.4, a CiteScore of 24.3, and a 5-Year Impact Factor of 14.6.
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Subject
Rheumatology
Impact Factor
16.4
Quartile
Q1
Open Access Type
Hybrid
ISSN
2665-9913
eISSN
2665-9913
Invitation Only
No
Cost Range
USD 8,010 APC for open access publishing in The Lancet Rheumatology as of Jan 1, 2026.
Submission Instructions
Lancet Rheumatology accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.
Article
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract
A semi-structured abstract is required. The abstract must not exceed 300 words. The abstract must be semi-structured as five paragraphs. The abstract must use the headings Background, Methods, Findings, Interpretation, and Funding.
Manuscript
Articles must be up to 3500 words, or up to 4500 words for randomised controlled trials. Primary research Articles must include a Research in Context panel, and the Discussion section must contain a full description and discussion of the context. The manuscript must include a data sharing statement, a Declaration of interests section at the end of the text, author contribution statements at the end of the text, a Role of the funding source subsection at the end of Methods or as an acknowledgment if there is no Methods section, and any AI-use disclosure statement in the acknowledgments section.
References
Articles must include no more than 30 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, with up to six authors listed in full and seven or more listed as the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels, and figures must be included with the submission. When reporting Kaplan-Meier survival data, numbers at risk must be included at each timepoint.
Meta-Analysis
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract
A semi-structured summary is required for Meta-Analyses. The abstract must be semi-structured.
Manuscript
Meta-Analyses should aim for a maximum length of about 3500 words. Meta-Analyses must be structured around five sections: Summary, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Meta-Analyses must include a Research in Context panel without references, a data sharing statement detailing what data and additional documents will be shared, when data will become available, and the access criteria, a Declaration of interests section at the end of the text, author contribution statements at the end of the text, and an acknowledgment disclosure statement for any generative AI use in writing with methods reporting of AI use in the study where applicable.
References
Meta-Analyses should have a maximum of 75 references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer and the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work only in the text.
Figures & Tables
First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
Review
Cover Letter
Cover letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
A 150-word unstructured summary is required. Abstract must not exceed 150 words. Abstract must be unstructured.
Manuscript
Manuscript should be no more than 4500 words. Manuscript should include a brief section entitled 'Search strategy and selection criteria' stating the sources searched and the criteria used to include or exclude studies. Manuscript must include author contributions at the end of the text, a 'Declaration of interests' subheading, an AI-use disclosure statement in the acknowledgments if applicable, and a methods description of any generative AI used in developing the review if applicable.
References
References must not exceed 75. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer, and list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more.
Figures & Tables
Use of up to 5–6 illustrations is encouraged. First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
Correspondence
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions. The covering letter should explain why the paper should be published in Lancet Rheumatology rather than elsewhere.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Correspondence letters must be no longer than 400 words. The text must include author contributions at the end and a 'Declaration of interests' subheading, and any use of generative AI in writing must be disclosed in a statement at the end of the article in the acknowledgments section including the model name, version, exact prompt, and how and where it was used.
References
Correspondence letters must include no more than five references. References must use Vancouver style. References must be cited sequentially in the text as superscript numbers after punctuation, list all authors when there are six or fewer, list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work in the text rather than in the reference list.
Figures & Tables
Only one table or figure is permitted. First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
Health Policy
Cover Letter
A covering letter must be included with the first submission.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Health Policy manuscripts are narrative reviews and should follow the same guidelines as a Review. The manuscript must include author contribution statements and a 'Declaration of interests' section at the end of the text, and any use of generative AI in writing must be disclosed in the acknowledgments with the model name, version, exact prompt, and how and where it was used.
References
References must use Vancouver style with sequential superscript numbering in the text. List all authors when there are six or fewer, list the first three followed by et al when there are seven or more, abbreviate journal names in Index Medicus style, include URL and access date for online material, and cite personal communications and unpublished work only in the text.
Figures & Tables
First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels, and figures must also be included with the submission. Annotated figures must be provided as both an annotated copy and a non-annotated editable copy, and multi-part figures must be provided as both individual parts and a combined version.
Clinical Picture
Cover Letter
A covering letter is required for first submissions.
Abstract
Abstract requirements are not specified.
Manuscript
Clinical Picture text must not exceed 300 words. Clinical Pictures must include contextual text with a brief patient history and an explanation of what the image shows and why it is of interest to the general reader. Clinical Picture submissions must include a challenging clinical question related to the case and four possible answers.
References
Clinical Pictures must not include references. References use Vancouver numbering style. References in the text must be cited sequentially as superscripted numbers after punctuation, journal names must use Index Medicus abbreviations, references with six or fewer authors list all authors, and references with seven or more authors list the first three followed by et al.
Figures & Tables
First submissions must include the manuscript including tables and panels and must include figures.
Recent Publications
Long-term treatment transition patterns after intensive treatment strategies in early psoriatic arthritis: insights from the GOLMePsA clinical trial
Katya Meridor, Raquel Granados, Stephanie R Harrison, Philip S Helliwell, Dennis McGonagle, Gabriele De Marco, Helena Marzo-Ortega
10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00120-7
View Publication
When one joint matters: the monoarticular blind spot in inflammatory arthritis
Francesco Ursini, Jacopo Ciaffi, Salvatore D’Angelo, Roberto Caporali, Tom WJ Huizinga
10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00080-9
View Publication
Enpatoran: promising mechanism, pharmacodynamic challenge
Cristina Arriens
10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00037-8
View Publication
BMI-based barriers to joint replacement in the UK
The Lancet Rheumatology
10.1016/s2665-9913(26)00116-5
View Publication
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to publish?
Eligible fast-track original research articles are published within 10 weeks of submission.
Reformat to Lancet Rheumatology using Livewrite PremiumWhat are the publication costs?
The Lancet Rheumatology is a hybrid journal with an APC of USD 8,010 for open access publishing as of Jan 1, 2026.
Reformat to Lancet Rheumatology using Livewrite PremiumResearch Topics
Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research
COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases
SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments
Vasculitis and related conditions
Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
Inflammasome and immune disorders
Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis
Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation
Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid
Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
Otitis Media and Relapsing Polychondritis
Dermatological and COVID-19 studies
Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions
Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes
Immune Cell Function and Interaction
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research