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RMD Open

RMD Open is an online-only, open access, peer-reviewed rheumatology journal that publishes original research on rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders and connective tissue diseases, including osteoporosis, spine and rehabilitation. It covers clinical and epidemiological research, basic and translational medicine, interesting clinical cases, and smaller studies, and aims to provide rapid publication through a continuous publication model.

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Subject Rheumatology
Impact Factor 4.7
Quartile Q1
Open Access Type Hybrid
ISSN 2056-5933
eISSN 2056-5933
Invitation Only No
Cost Range Full Article Processing Charge waiver (100% discount) for authors in low and lower-middle-income countries; other discount requests may be considered case by case.

Submission Instructions

RMD Open accepts the following article types. Click on an article type to view submission instructions.

Original Research

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Original Research articles must include an abstract. Abstract must be no more than 250 words.
Manuscript Manuscript should usually be up to 5000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Manuscript should follow the structure of abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, and tables and figures as appropriate. Manuscript must include up to five keywords and a key messages section after the abstract with the headings 'What is already known on this topic', 'What this study adds', and 'How this study might affect research, practice or policy', written in 3-5 sentences.
References Reference list may include up to 50 references.
Figures & Tables Manuscript may include up to 8 tables and/or figures.
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Review

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract must be up to 250 words.
Manuscript Manuscript should usually be up to 5000 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Manuscript must include a 'Key messages' section consisting of 3–4 bullet points, with each bullet point no more than one sentence.
References References may include up to 50 entries.
Figures & Tables Manuscript may include up to 8 tables and/or figures.
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Short Report

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract An abstract is required for Short Reports. Abstract must be up to 250 words.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 1500 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Short Reports must be formatted as abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, references, tables and/or figures, and key messages. The manuscript must include key messages and up to five specific keywords.
References Short Reports may include up to 20 references.
Figures & Tables Short Reports may include up to 3 tables and/or figures.
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Clinical Case

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract An abstract or summary is required. Abstract or summary must be no more than 250 words. Clinical Case articles should be presented with abstract or summary, introduction, case report, discussion, and key messages sections.
Manuscript Manuscript must be up to 1500 words, excluding the title page, abstract, tables, acknowledgements, contributions, and references. Clinical Case articles should be organized into abstract or summary, introduction, case report, discussion, and key messages sections. Authors must select up to five specific keywords.
References Clinical Case articles may include up to 20 references.
Figures & Tables Clinical Case articles may include up to 3 tables and/or figures.
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Letter

Cover Letter Cover Letter requirements are not specified.
Abstract Abstract is not required for letters.
Manuscript Letters must be up to 600 words. Letters are not divided into sections. Authors must select up to five specific keywords.
References Letters may include a maximum of 6 references.
Figures & Tables Letters may include a maximum of 1 table and/or figure.
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Recent Publications

Impact of trial exclusion criteria on real-world comparative effectiveness of targeted therapies in rheumatoid arthritis: the FIRST Registry

Satoshi Kubo, Yoshiya Tanaka, Yusuke Miyazaki, Hiroaki Tanaka, Hidenori Sakai, Ryuichiro Kanda, Yuya Fujita, Masanobu Ueno, Yasuyuki Todoroki, Ippei Miyagawa, Shingo Nakayamada

10.1136/rmdopen-2026-006825
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Correction: Which definitions for MRI sacroiliac joint lesions predict the diagnosis of early axial spondyloarthritis best? A 2-year follow-up in the SPACE cohort

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10.1136/rmdopen-2025-006425corr1
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PD1 + TIGIT + CD4 + T cells predict response to anti-TNF in rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis

Samuel Bitoun, Matthieu Roulleaux-Dugage, Marie Naigeon, Caroline de Oliveira, Caroline Berthot, Xavier Mariette, Gaetane Nocturne, Nathalie Chaput

10.1136/rmdopen-2025-006537
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HLA-DR risk variants in rheumatoid arthritis: what we know and still do not know

Chuan Fu Yap, Sebastien Viatte

10.1136/rmdopen-2025-006045
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Real-world damage accrual in Sjögren’s disease: a 5-year multicentre GIRRCS cohort analysis

Onorina Berardicurti, Annalisa Marino, Luca Navarini, Andrea Pilato, Marta Vomero, Letizia Pia Di Corcia, Irene Genovali, Damiano Currado, Lidia La Barbera, Rosaria Irace, Paola Conigliaro, Victoriya Pavlych, Valeria Guardo, Giorgio Carlino, Sara Ferrigno, Rosa Daniela Grembiale, Annamaria Iagnocco, Piero Ruscitti, Paola Cipriani, Maria Sole Chimenti, Francesco Ciccia, Giuliana Guggino, Roberto Giacomelli

10.1136/rmdopen-2026-006772
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Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to publish?

Median time to first decision with review is 40 days.

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Is a cover letter required?

A covering letter can be used to provide detailed explanations of ethical and moral justification if the information does not fit into the manuscript, or the information can be uploaded as a supplemental file.

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What are the publication costs?

Full Article Processing Charge waiver (100% discount) for authors in low and lower-middle-income countries; other discount requests may be considered case by case.

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Research Topics

Rheumatoid Arthritis Research and Therapies Spondyloarthritis Studies and Treatments Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders Research Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis Systemic Sclerosis and Related Diseases Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms Spine and Intervertebral Disc Pathology Vasculitis and related conditions Gout, Hyperuricemia, Uric Acid Inflammatory Myopathies and Dermatomyositis Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Salivary Gland Disorders and Functions Musculoskeletal Disorders and Rehabilitation Biosimilars and Bioanalytical Methods Otitis Media and Relapsing Polychondritis SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome Inflammasome and immune disorders Pregnancy and Medication Impact COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies

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