Rheumatoid arthritis remission: real-world data

A recent study has published real-world data on RA remission and investigated whether there are predictors that may make remission more likely.

Remission in rheumatoid arthritis

Remission is realistic for only one third of patients

The current study included people with rheumatoid arthritis who were undergoing escalation therapy with csDMARDs and biologics under close monitoring.

499 patients were included in the long-term study (mean follow-up of 108 months). However, only 157 of them achieved long-term remission, equal to about one third. Long-term remission was defined as:

There are predictive factors

On average, it took eight months to achieve long-term remission. The researchers also investigated whether there might be predictive factors that are associated with a more favourable course and thus make remission more likely.

There was an association between long-term remission and:

Conclusion for medical practice

The newly published real-world data show that about one-third of RA patients can achieve long-term remission - with appropriate therapy. Moreover, there are predictive factors that could speak for a more positive course of the disease.

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