title: Remission in a prospective study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. American Rheumatism Association preliminary remission criteria in relation to the disease activity score.
abstract: In a prospective follow-up study of patients with early-onset rheumatoid arthritis, the prevalence of remission according to the 1981 American Rheumatism Association (ARA) preliminary criteria was evaluated. A total of 227 patients with a median follow-up of 3.9 yr and a total of 2832 follow-up visits were studied. The ARA remission criteria were fulfilled in 9.5% of these visits. The percentage of patients with at least one visit fulfilling the ARA criteria was for years 2-6 approximately 25%. Each year, approximately 15% of the patients were in remission for at least two consecutive visits. A comparison was made between the ARA remission criteria and the Disease Activity Score (DAS). DAS < 1.6 corresponded with being in remission according to the ARA criteria. The DAS is being proposed as a tool to define remission because absence of disease activity should be measured using the same method as for higher levels of disease activity, preferably on a continuous scale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Prevoo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Gestel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van T Hof
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van Rijswijk
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: van de Putte
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: van Riel
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012074:Remission Induction