%0 Journal Article
%T Early Arthritis: A Rapid and Sustained Response to Treatment over one Year Follow-up
%A Maria-Magdalena T£¿MA£¿
%A Ana PETCU
%A Simona REDNIC
%J Applied Medical Informatics
%D 2013
%I SRIMA Publishing House
%X Aim: We aimed to assess the evolution in a group of patients diagnosed with early arthritis, by using clinical outcome measures and to find possible predictors for the clinical response. Methods: The study was conducted in the Rheumatology Department between January 2010 - December 2011. Thirty-six patients between 18-75 years of age with arthritis of at least one peripheral joint less then 12 months duration were consecutively included; other definite causes for arthritis were clinically excluded. The visits were performed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Clinical examination and biological investigations related to the disease activity were performed. Clinical remission and the EULAR (¡°European League Against Rheumatism¡±) response criteria were assessed based on the disease activity score 28 (DAS28). Results: At baseline 91.67% of patients received treatment indication with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. A significant decrease in the number of tender, swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate was obtained at 3 months (p<0.001). The mean DAS28 decreased from 5.02¡À1.31 at baseline to 3.54¡À1.36 at 3 months (p<0.001). At 3 months, 33.3% of patients were good and 50% moderate responders (p<0.001), while at 6 months 47.2% were good and 33.3% moderate responders (p<0.001). Remission and low disease activity were achieved by 47.2% of patients at 3 and 12 months. Conclusions: A rapid response to treatment was obtained at 3 months. Low disease activity and remission were achieved by almost a half of patients at each visit. The favorable response rate was preserved at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.
%K Early arthritis
%K Rheumatoid arthritis
%K Disease activity
%K Clinical remission
%K Methotrexate
%U http://ami.info.umfcluj.ro/index.php/AMI/article/view/407/pdf