[Evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis activity in clinical practice].
OBJECTIVE
To develop inflammatory activity index (IAI) for assessment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity in wide clinical practice.


METHODS
Leflunomide was given to 414 patients for 18.4 +/- 5.7 weeks, on the average. The assessment of the drug efficacy was made by arthralgia severity according to visual analog scale (VAS), duration of morning stiffness, the number of painful joints at palpation, number of swollen joints (NSJ), general condition (GC) of the patient, ESR. DAS28 was used as a basic indicator of the disease activity and efficacy. IAI was formed on the basis of DAS28 and 3 baseline components--NSJ (28 joints), GC and ESR.


RESULTS
DAS28 and IAI significantly correlated (r = 0.87, p < 0.01). Comparison of pairs of these indices can specify ranges of IAI corresponding to high, moderate and low RA activity in assessment by DAS28.


CONCLUSIONS
IAI is a simple and reliable index of RA activity in clinical practice.
Iu A
IuA
Oliunin
R M
RM
Balabanova
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007555:Isoxazoles; D000077339:Leflunomide