Defining Remission of Korean Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
10.4078/jkra.2008.15.3.204
- Author:
You Hyun LEE
1
;
Jisoo LEE
;
Eun Sook KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Rheumatology, Hongik Hospital, Seoul, Korea. leejisoo@ewha.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Remission;
Criteria
- From:The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association
2008;15(3):204-211
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To define the state of remission based on American College of Rheumatology (ACR) preliminary criteria in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A hundred three patients of RA, followed up over 1 year, were selected at Ewha medical center from May 2000 to May 2006. Remission was defined by ACR preliminary criteria. Data were obtained from the initial and the last visit. Data on initial tender joint count (TJC) and swollen joint count (SJC), treatment, disease duration, remission duration were collected. Initial ESR, CRP, rheumatoid factor (RF), TJC and SJC were also performed at the last clinical visit or at the time of remission. RESULTS: Patients in remission were 35%. The maintenance duration of remission was 4.8+/-9.0 (mean+/-SD) months. Remission group had shorter disease duration (20.2+/-34.7 vs. 58.2+/-83.2 months, p=0.010), were at earlier stage of the disease (<2 years of symptom onset) (80.6 vs. 52.2%, p=0.006) compared to non-remission group. Percentage of patients showing decrease in RF titer was significantly higher in the remission group compared to the non-remission group (p=0.049). However, seronegative conversion of RF was not related to remission status (15.6 vs. 14.8%). In the non-remission group, pain was the most persistently non-satisfying clinical variable of the ACR preliminary criteria. CONCLUSION: Patients at early stage of disease achieved clinical remission in higher rate. Changes of RF titer was affected by clinical remission status.
