Objective. To validate the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and the World Health Organization (WH0)hnternational 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 followup. 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.Conclusion. EULAR response criteria showed better construct and discriminant validity than did the ACR and the WHOIILAR response criteria for RA.

An investigation of clinical and laboratory variables which might form the basis for judging disease activity in clinical practice was made by six rheumatologists in a prospec-

Our data show that in almost 70% of RA patients, anti-CCP antibody is present at the early stages of disease. Anti-CCP-positive patients developed significantly more severe radiologic damage than patients who were anti-CCP negative, although in multiple regression analysis the additional predictive value was rather moderate.

In a prospective Ibllow-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 ~ 25%. Each year, 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.

There is no agreement