About the Journal

About the Journal

Rheumatology (Bulgaria) is an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal owned by the Bulgarian Society for Rheumatology. The journal focuses on the broad field of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, encompassing clinical, translational, and interdisciplinary research.

The journal publishes Original Articles, Society Recommendations, Editorials, Invited Reviews, Clinical Rheumatology Cases and Case-Based Reviews, as well as Letters to the Editor. National and regional guidelines and consensus statements relevant to Bulgarian and Balkan rheumatology are also considered for publication, provided they comply with internationally accepted editorial and ethical standards.

Indexing and abstracting: Scopus; EMBASE (Excerpta Medica); Crossref; Google Scholar; Open Ukrainian Citation Index (OUCI); Central Medical Library – Bulgaria; Bulgarian Medical Literature Database.

A Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is assigned to all peer-reviewed articles published since 2018.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

Rheumatology (Bulgaria) is committed to the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. The journal follows the recommendations and policies of the:

  • International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE),

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE),

  • Council of Science Editors (CSE),

  • Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

All editorial decisions are independent and based solely on scientific merit, relevance, originality, and ethical compliance.

Editorial Governance and Responsibilities

The Editorial Board supports the strategic and operational management of the journal within clearly defined and regularly reviewed terms of reference. It oversees the peer-review process, advises on editorial policy, and facilitates communication with authors when revisions or clarifications are required.

Responsibilities of Editors

  • The Editor-in-Chief and handling editors make unbiased, confidential, and timely decisions on manuscript processing and publication.

  • Editors are expected to maintain and develop their editorial competence through continuous education.

  • Complaints, appeals, and ethical concerns are evaluated objectively and addressed promptly.

  • Editorial conduct complies with the COPE Core Practices.

  • The Research Integrity Editor supports the implementation of policies related to research ethics, data integrity, and misconduct prevention.

  • The Social Media Coordinator promotes selected publications through official journal channels in accordance with ethical standards and responsible research communication principles.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

  • Reviewers are independent experts selected for their subject-matter competence.

  • Reviews must be objective, constructive, evidence-based, and submitted within the agreed timeframe.

  • Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest and maintain strict confidentiality.

  • Suspected plagiarism, redundant publication, or ethical concerns must be reported to the editors.

  • Reviewers provide recommendations, while final publication decisions remain the responsibility of the editors.

  • The journal supports reviewer recognition initiatives, including Publons.

Responsibilities of Authors

  • Authors are responsible for the scientific accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.

  • All listed authors must meet all four ICMJE authorship criteria.

  • Manuscripts must not be under consideration elsewhere or previously published, in whole or in part.

  • Conflicts of interest and sources of funding must be fully disclosed.

  • Authors must be prepared to provide access to primary data and statistical analyses upon reasonable request.

  • Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with applicable ethical standards and regulations.

  • Authors must notify the editors promptly if significant errors are identified after publication.

Publisher Responsibilities

The Publisher ensures the integrity and quality of the editorial process, supports editorial training, and monitors compliance with ethical standards. In cases of confirmed misconduct, appropriate actions are taken in accordance with COPE guidance, including corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

Plagiarism, Redundancy, and Retractions

All submissions undergo similarity checks using plagiarism-detection software. Plagiarism, redundant publication, and unethical overlap are not tolerated. Confirmed violations are handled according to COPE procedures.

Preprints (e.g., medRxiv, bioRxiv) are permitted, provided transparent disclosure is made at submission. Ethical secondary publication (e.g., society recommendations) may be considered in accordance with ICMJE guidance.

Authors of systematic reviews are encouraged to register their protocols in PROSPERO to minimize redundancy.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding Disclosure

All authors must submit the ICMJE Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form at submission. Financial and non-financial support, including the role of funding bodies and industry sponsors, must be clearly stated. Editors and reviewers are also required to declare relevant conflicts of interest.

When submissions originate from editors or editorial board members, independent handling editors are assigned to ensure editorial impartiality.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

Research must comply with:

  • the Declaration of Helsinki,

  • applicable EU legislation on animal research,

  • national and institutional regulations.

Ethics committee approval (including protocol number, date, and approving body) must be explicitly stated in the Methods section of all applicable manuscripts. Written informed consent is mandatory for studies involving human participants unless formally waived by an ethics committee.

Patient confidentiality must be strictly protected. Identifiable information in case reports or images must be anonymized, and explicit consent must be obtained when required.

Last updated: 10 February 2026