REMISSION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (2) , 245-252
Abstract
Patients (458) whose clinical data was prospectively entered into a rheumatic disease databank were studied for remission utilizing remission criteria of the American Rheumatism Association [ARA] and criteria modiied for chart review. During the period of observation 86 of 458 or 18.8% had at least 1 remission by investigators'' assessment on chart review and 18.1% by application of ARA criteria. Patients were followed for 1131 patient yr and remission occupied 97 patient yr. For patients achieving remission this period represented 34.5% of their followup duration. The median length of remission was 10 mo. Nineteen (18.6)% of Au treatment courses and 16.7% of penicillamine courses resulted in remission. Fourteen (13.6)% of patients who never received remittive therapy also had remissions. The ARA Preliminary Criteria for Clinical Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis displayed a sensitivity of 80.2% and a specificity of 96.2% in this population. In patients receiving remittive therapy, female sex, disease onset before age 60, and early development of erosions were associated with decreased proportion of remission.