Development and validation of the European League Against Rheumatism response criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. Comparison with the preliminary American College of Rheumatology and the World Health Organization/International League Against Rheumatism Criteria.
OBJECTIVE
To validate the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and the World Health Organization (WHO)/International League Against Rheumatism (ILAR) response criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
EULAR response criteria were developed combining change from baseline and level of disease activity attained during follow up. In a trial comparing hydroxychloroquine and sulfasalazine, we studied construct (radiographic progression), criterion (functional capacity), and discriminant validity.


RESULTS
EULAR response criteria had good construct, criterion, and discriminant validity, ACR and WHO/ILAR criteria showed only good criterion validity.


CONCLUSIONS
EULAR response criteria showed better construct and discriminant validity than did the ACR and the WHO/ILAR response criteria for RA.
University Hosptial Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
A M
AM
van Gestel
M L
ML
Prevoo
M A
MA
van 't Hof
M H
MH
van Rijswijk
L B
LB
van de Putte
P L
PL
van Riel
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014944:World Health Organization
D012460:Sulfasalazine; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine