The Disease Activity Score and the EULAR response criteria

J. Fransen, P.L.C.M. van Riel

ABSTRACT
In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory activity cannot be measured using one single variable. For this reason the Disease Activity Score (DAS) has been developed. The DAS is a clinical index of RA disease activity that combines information from swollen joints, tender joints, the acute phase response and general health. The DAS-based European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria were developed to measure individual response in clinical trials. The EULAR response criteria classify individual patients as non-, moderate, or good responders, dependent on the extent of change and the level of disease activity reached.

Key words
Rheumatoid arthritis, disease activity, response, clinical assessment.

Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Rheumatology, PO Box 9101, NL-6500HB Nijmegen,
The Netherlands.
E-mail: p.vanriel@reuma.umcn.nl

Clin Exp Rheumatol 2005; 23 (suppl. 39): S93-S99.
© CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2005.