类风湿关节炎中抗纤聚蛋白抗体意义的探讨

目的探讨抗纤聚蛋白抗体(AFA)在类风湿关节炎(RA)中的意义,并比较AFA与类风湿因子(RF)、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)、抗核周因子(APF)和抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体以及某些临床指标的相关性。方法对860例研究对象,包括388例RA患者(其中早期172例,中晚期216例),422例非RA的风湿性疾病患者,50名健康对照,用免疫印迹法(IB)检测血清中的AFA。同时检测其他RA相关自身抗体。结果AFA在早期RA病例中阳性率为62.2%,在中晚期RA病例中阳性率为58.8%,对RA诊断敏感性60.3%,特异性91.1%,阳性和阴性预测值分别为94.6%、68.0%。AFA和AKA在早期和中晚期RA的阳性率差异无统计学意义,而RF、APF和抗CCP抗体在中晚期组的阳性率大于早期组。AFA与RF、AKA、APF以及抗CCP抗体相关(P<0.05)。AFA与RA患者平均发病年龄相关(P=0.047)。结论AFA可视为RA的特异性血清学标记,尤其对RF阴性及早期RA诊断很有帮助;AFA与其他RA相关自身抗体相关,联合检测可以相互补充,提高对RA的诊断。     

抗聚角蛋白微丝蛋白抗体在早期类风湿关节炎中的意义

目的研究抗聚角蛋白微丝蛋白抗体(AFA)在早期类风湿关节炎(RA)的意义。方法对275例血清样本,包括112例早期RA,113例未明确诊断的早期关节炎,50名健康对照,以免疫印迹法(IB)检测AFA。结果A FA在早期R A组,未确诊早期关节炎组及健康对照组中的检出率分别为68.8%,16.8%,0。经χ检验,早期R A组显著高于未确诊早期关节炎组(χ=59.918,P=0.000)。AFA对早期RA的22敏感性为72%,特异性为94%。AFA阳性组的平均年龄、平均发病年龄高于阴性组(P=0.037,P=0.043)。AFA与年龄有关。AFA与抗核周因子抗体(APF)、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)、抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体及抗Sa抗体均有相关性。AFA与早期R A患者的疾病活动性和严重度无关。AFA阳性率在超早期R A(病程<6个月)与早期RA(6月≤病程<1年)病例中差异无统计学意义。结论A FA存在于RA疾病的早期,对早期RA诊断有较好的敏感性和特异性,并且对RA的诊断有很好的预测性。AFA与疾病活动度、功能状态可能无关;AFA与A PF、A KA、抗CCP抗体及抗Sa抗体均有相关性,但不完全重叠,可互相补充。     

三种自身抗体联合检测在老年起病类风湿关节炎诊断中的作用

目的 研究抗环瓜氨酸肽(cyclic citrulinated peptid,CCP)抗体、抗角蛋白抗体(anti-keratin antibody,AKA)和抗RA33抗体在老年起病的类风湿关节炎(EORA)中的临床意义,探讨3种自身抗体联合检测在EORA诊断中的作用. 方法 检测69例EORA、73例风湿性多肌痛(PMR)和65例老年骨关节炎(0A)患者体内3种抗体水平,抗CCP抗体和抗RA33抗体采用酶联免疫吸附试验法(ELISA),AKA采用间接免疫荧光法(IIF)检测. 结果 EORA患者3种抗体的敏感性和特异性分别为55.1%和94.3 0A、31.3%和91.5%、36.2%和95.4%,显著高于其他两组(P<0.05).3种抗体串联检测,EORA组的阳性率显著高于PMR组和OA组(均为P<0.05),3种抗体串联检测敏感性降低,但其特异性提高至100.0%,且有更高的阳性预测值. 结论 抗CCP抗体、AKA和抗RA33抗体在EORA患者中均可检出,抗CCP抗体有较高的敏感性和特异性,3种抗体联合检测有更高的特异性和阳性预测值;结合临床症状、影像学改变,3种抗体联合检测对EORA的诊断具有较高的临床应用价值.     

抗瓜氨酸化蛋白抗体联合检测在类风湿关节炎中诊断价值的分析

目的 分别检测抗核周因子(APF)、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)、抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体,比较3种抗体在类风湿关节炎(RA)诊断中的敏感性和特异性,并探讨3种抗体联合检测在RA中的诊断价值.方法 选取2006-2008年在北京大学人民医院风湿免疫科就诊、具有关节症状的各种风湿病患者551例,其中,RA患者304例,其他风湿病患者247例.所有患者均检测APF、AKA和抗CCP抗体,其中J前两者采用间接免疫荧光法(IIF)检测,后者采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测.结果 抗CCP抗体、AKA和APF对RA诊断的敏感性分别为76.2%、43.6%和34.5%,特异性分别为96.0%、98.4%和99.6%;3种抗体中任一抗体阳性对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为77.3%和94.7%;3种抗体中任2项抗体阳性对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为48.4%和99.2%,而3种抗体均阳性对RA诊断的特异性达100%,但敏感性仅28.3%.结论 3种抗瓜氨酸化蛋白抗体中,以抗CCP抗体对RA的诊断价值最高,联合检测抗CCP抗体、AKA和APF并不能显著提高对RA的诊断价值.     

抗纤聚蛋白抗体检测及其在类风湿关节炎中的意义

目的 了解抗纤聚蛋白抗体（AFA）的临床意义。方法 从乳腺癌患者切除乳房皮肤中提取纤聚蛋白（filaggrin)，应用免疫印迹法检测类风湿关节炎（RA）及其他风湿病患者血清AFA，结合临床资料进行分析。结果 178例RA中AFA阳性71例，对RA诊断敏感性39．9％，特异性96．9％。31例早期RA阳性率48．4％，48例RF阴性患者AFA阳性率29．2％，AFA阳性者平均年龄，平均发病年龄，继发Sjoegren综合征，RF阳性率，平均滴度较阴性者高，AFA与年龄，类风湿因子（RF）相关，AFA与抗角蛋白抗体（AKA），抗核周因子抗体（APF）相关。结论 AFA检测对RA有诊断价值，特别有利于RF阴性及早期RA诊断。AFA与AKA和APF相关，但并不完全重叠，其所识别抗原，无一包含所有抗原决定簇，免疫印迹法检测AFA方法简单可靠，可能补充间接免疫荧光法检测AKA，APF。     

抗聚角蛋白微丝蛋白抗体的检测在类风湿关节炎诊断中的意义

目的：探讨抗聚角蛋白微丝蛋白抗体（AFA）对RA诊断的意义，并比较其与抗核周因子抗体（APF），抗角蛋白抗体（AKA）以及HLA－DR4之间的相关性。方法；用免疫印迹法（WB）检测157例类风湿关节炎（RA）血清标本和104例对照血清，包括系统性红斑 狼疮（SLE)、干燥综合征（SS）、骨关节炎（OA）等的AFA。APF和AKA用间接免疫荧光法检测。结果：157例RA病人的AFA敏感性和特异性分别为36．3％、 93．4％，与疾病对照组和正常对照组相比，差异有显著性（P＜0．05）。57例AFA阳性的血清中，其中AKA同时阳性的有36例,重叠为63．2％；APF同时阳性的有38例，重叠率为66．7％；HLA－DR4同时阳性的有36例，重叠率为52．6％。统计学分析证实AFA与AKA、APF及HLA－DR4之间有相关性。结论：AFA对RA具有很高的特异性，可用于RA的临床诊断。AFA与APF、AKA及GLA－DR4有相关性。AFA不能完全替代APF和AKA，三项临床检测可互相补充,提高RA的诊断率。     

抗瓜氨酸化蛋白／肽抗体对类风湿关节炎的诊断价值

目的探讨4种抗瓜氨酸化蛋白，肽抗体（anti-citrufllinated protein／peptide autoantibodies，ACPAs）-抗核周因子（anti-perinuclear fator，APF）、抗角蛋白抗体（anti-keratin antibody，AKA）、抗角蛋白微丝聚集蛋白抗体（antiprofillagrin／fillagrin antibody，AFA）、第二代抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体（second generation of anti-cylic citrulline peptide antibody，CCPⅡ）对类风湿关节炎（rheumatoid arthritis，RA）的诊断意义及其结果的一致性。方法 对129例RA、153例其他风湿性疾病患者和94名健康对照者的血清进行类风湿因子（rheumatoid factor，RF）和ACPAs检测。RF采用乳胶间接凝集法检测。APF和AKA采用间接免疫荧光法检测，AFA、抗CCP（Ⅱ）抗体采用酶联免疫吸附法检测。结果APF、AKA、AFA和抗CCP（Ⅱ）抗体对RA的诊断特异性分别为90.3％、94．7％、93．5％和94．7％，敏感性分别为58．1％、40.3％、62．0％和67．4％；而RF的诊断特异性和敏感性为77．7％和46．5％。APF与AFA、APF与抗CCP（Ⅱ）和AFA与抗CCP（Ⅱ）抗体间检测结果一致性较好，Kappa值分别是0．596、0．572和0．576。结论ACPAs是RA的诊断特异性抗体，其中抗CCP（Ⅱ）抗体的敏感性和特异性最高，且与APF和AFA抗体间结果具有明显的一致性。     

抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体和抗角蛋白抗体在老年发病类风湿关节炎诊断中的意义

目的 研究抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)在老年发病类风湿关节炎(EORA)中的临床意义.方法 检测69例EORA患者和42例风湿性多肌痛(PMR)患者中的两种抗体,其中抗CCP抗体采用ELISA法,AKA采用间接免疫荧光(IIF)法检测.结果 EORA组两种抗体的阳性率显著高于PMR组(P＜0.05),两种抗体诊断EORA的敏感性和特异性分别为:抗CCP抗体(55.1%、94.3%)、AKA(33.3%、91.5%),抗CCP抗体和AKA合用敏感性有所降低,但能使特异性增高至98.3%.结论 抗CCP抗体有很高的敏感性和特异性,抗CCP抗体和AKA在EORA组中的阳性率明显高于PMR组,两种抗体联合检测使特异性提高近100%,有利于EORA的鉴别诊断,结合影像学改变,对提高EORA的诊断率也有临床应用价值.     

抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体与抗Sa抗体联合检测对类风湿关节炎的意义

类风湿关节炎 (rheumatoidarthritis,RA)是一种致畸性疾病 ,3年内 70 %的患者出现骨关节影像学改变 ,早期诊断早期给予缓解病情药可以减少骨关节破坏并改善预后。自从 196 4年发现抗核周因子 (APF)是RA的特异性抗体后 ,又陆续发现抗角蛋白抗体 (AKA)、抗纤聚蛋白抗体 (AFA)以及抗Sa抗体[1,2 ] 、抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体[3 ] (抗CCP抗体 )。有资料表明 ,抗Sa抗体对RA的敏感性 37%～ 4 3% ,抗CCP抗体对RA的敏感性 4 0 %～ 5 0 % ,将两者联合检测能否提高诊断敏感性及特异性 ?本文将探讨抗Sa抗体与抗CCP抗体的相关性及联合诊断对RA的意…     

抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体在类风湿关节炎发病机制病情进展及治疗监测中的意义

20世纪末,随着对类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)研究的深入,逐步发现抗核周因子(APF)、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)以及抗聚角蛋白微丝蛋白抗体(AFA)对RA的诊断具有高度特异性,且这些抗体在化学结构上具相关性,抗原决定簇中都含有瓜氨酸.     

Improvement in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis using dual indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting assays for antifilaggrin autoantibodies: a retrospective 3 year study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical usefulness of measuring antistratum corneum (ASC) and antifilaggrin autoantibodies (AFA) to discriminate between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic or autoimmune diseases, using an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay, along with a complementary immunoblotting technique (IB) when IIF detection of ASC was negative. METHODS: Sera from 346 patients were studied: 189 sera from patients with RA seen in the same clinic, 92 from patients with non-RA rheumatic diseases, 24 from nonrheumatic autoimmune diseases, and 41 from healthy blood donors. ASC and AFA were detected using IIF and IB, respectively. RESULTS: ASC detection using IIF showed a specificity of 97.5% for RA with 44.4% sensitivity. When both IIF and IB techniques were used, sensitivity for RA increased significantly (up to 53.4%; p < 0.01) with no decrease in specificity (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data confirm the usefulness of 2 different techniques performed simultaneously for detecting ASC/AFA, and the usefulness of these biological markers for discriminating between RA and other rheumatic diseases in clinical practice.     

A case of adult periodic fever,aphthous stomatitis,pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome associated with endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis

To examine the incorporation of anti-CCP antibodies into the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate the advantages of the revised anti-CCP criteria in diagnosing Chinese patients. Patients who suffered from arthritic problems during the recent 2 years were selected from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People's Hospital. The patients were divided into RA group and non-RA group according to the clinical diagnosis by experienced rheumatologists. The ACR criteria were revised in three ways: (1) replacement of rheumatoid nodules and erosions as criteria with anti-CCP antibodies (RA-6 criteria); (2) replacement of rheumatoid nodules with anti-CCP antibodies as a criterion (RA-7 criteria); (3) addition of anti-CCP antibodies (RA-8 criteria). The diagnostic value of ACR criteria and anti-CCP revised criteria (RA-6, RA-7, and RA-8) were evaluated by comparing the sensitivity and specificity of all criteria, in all subjects and in subjects with arthritis symptoms within 2 years. There were 604 patients included in the study totally, among whom 312 patients were diagnosed as RA and 292 were diagnosed as other rheumatic diseases by rheumatologists. For all the RA patients, the sensitivity and specificity of anti-CCP antibodies were 76.2% and 96%, respectively. Its specificity was much higher than RF (85.2%). For the patients with a disease duration less than two years, the sensitivities were 82.0%, 91.0%, 87.0%, and 87.0%, while the specificities were 95.6%, 83.9%, 95.6%, and 95.6%, respectively, according to 1987 ACR criteria, RA-6, RA-7, and RA-8 criteria. Among all the RA patients, the corresponding sensitivities were 92.3%, 96.8%, 94.6%, and 94.6%, and the specificities were 92.8%, 83.6%, 92.8%, and 92.8%, respectively. The 1987 ACR criteria have high sensitivity and specificity in established RA, but are less sensitive in early RA. The RA-6 criteria improve the sensitivity by reducing its specificity. The RA-7 criteria with replacement of rheumatoid nodules by anti-CCP antibodies increase the sensitivity without losing specificity, which may serve as new classification criteria in routine clinical practice, especially in early RA patients.     

以抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体改进对1987年美国风湿病学会关于类风湿关节炎分类标准的探讨

目的 改进1987年美国风湿病学会(ACR)修订的类风湿关节炎(RA)分类标准,增加抗环瓜氨酸肽(CCP)抗体和(或)保留类风湿结节或放射学改变等,探讨不同条件下的标准(分别称为RA-6、RA-7以及RA-8)对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性.方法 选取2006-2008年于北京大学人民医院风湿免疫科就诊的具有关节症状的患者604例,其中,RA患者312例,其他风湿病患者292例.在总结患者临床和实验室资料的基础上,对1987年ACR分类标准以及RA-6、RA-7和RA-8进行敏感性和特异性分析,并探讨其对于RA,尤其早期RA的诊断价值.结果 ①对于病程≤2年的早期RA患者,1987年ACR标准、RA-6、RA-7和RA-8的敏感性分别为82.0%、91.0%、87.0%和87.0%,特异性分别为95.6%、83.9%、95.6%和95.6%.②在全部RA患者中,1987年ACR标准、RA-6、RA-7和RA-8的敏感性分别为92.3%、96.8%、94.6%和94.6%,特异性分别为92.8%、83.6%、92.8%和92.8%.结论 1987年ACR的RA分类标准对早期RA诊断的敏感性较低.RA-6可以提高诊断的敏感性,但是特异性降低.RA-7和RA-8在提高敏感性的同时并不降低特异性,两者具有相同的诊断价值,但是,RA-7更简便实用,可能对RA诊断有参考意义.     

Study on sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic criteria for early rheumatoid arthritis

Sensitivity and specificity were compared among the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 classification criteria, the Yamasaki diagnostic criteria, and the Japan Rheumatism Association (JRA) diagnostic criteria for early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study included 90 patients who consulted our department for the first time within 1 year after onset and were suspected of having RA (final diagnosis: RA 45 cases, non-RA 45 cases). We investigated whether physical and laboratory findings at the first examination met these three sets of criteria to determine the sensitivity and specificity of each set of diagnostic criteria. Moreover, the sensitivity and specificity of each item in the diagnostic criteria set were similarly determined. The sensitivity of the ACR 1987 classification criteria, the Yamasaki diagnostic criteria, and the JRA diagnostic criteria for early RA were 71.1%, 88.9%, and 95.6%, respectively, and their specificities were 100%, 93.3%, and 77.8%, respectively. In a study on each diagnostic item, observation for 1 week was considered to be sufficient for morning stiffness, swelling in three joint areas, and symmetrical swelling, while observation for a more prolonged period seemed to be necessary for swelling of the finger and hand joints. The Yamasaki diagnostic criteria are appropriate for the diagnosis of early RA, while the JRA diagnostic criteria are suitable for screening. Received: July 13, 1999 / Accepted: May 25, 2000     

Comparison of three classification criteria of rheumatoid arthritis in an inception early arthritis cohort

The aim of this study is to compare the three classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a large cohort of early arthritis patients. Patients who had at least one clinically swollen joint with disease duration no more than 1 year and age more than 18 years were enrolled. The clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded. The patients were diagnosed by two experienced rheumatologists. Undiagnosed patients were followed up every 3 months until 1 year. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value were compared among the early RA (ERA) criteria, the 1987 ACR criteria, and the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria in this inception cohort of early arthritis patients. A total of 417 patients with inflammatory arthritis were recruited. By the end of 1 year follow-up, there were 399 patients (95.7 %) with a definitive diagnosis and 18 (4.3 %) patients remained as undifferentiated arthritis. Among the patients with definitive diagnosis, 202 (50.6 %) patients were diagnosed with RA and 197 (49.4 %) with non-RA. The sensitivity of ERA criteria was equal to 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (both were 72.3 %), but much higher than 1987 ACR criteria (72.3 vs. 39.1 %, P?<?0.001); the specificity of ERA criteria was comparable to 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria (87.8 vs. 83.2 %) and slightly lower than 1987 ACR criteria (87.8 vs. 92.4 %, P?<?0.001). Unlike the complicated scoring system of 2010 criteria, the ERA criteria were more feasible to use in practice with five criteria only. The ERA criteria have a high sensitivity and more clinically feasibility in daily practice for early RA diagnosis.     

DAS 28 for defining remission in rheumatoid arthritis in Indian patients

ObjectiveTo establish DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 scores that best define remission in Indian patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Patients and MethodsAll patients diagnosed with RA visiting AIIMS, New Delhi over a period of 3 months were recruited. Clinical assessment included 28 joint counts for swelling and tenderness, duration of early morning stiffness, patient global assessment of disease activity, fatigue, joint pains and ESR. DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 scores were calculated and receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed to define cutoff values utilizing ‘ACR 5/6’ and ‘ACR 4/5’ remission criteria.ResultsSubjects included 207 patients (M: 44; F: 163) with mean age of 47.4 ± 12.6 years, median disease duration of 8 [4.12–14] years.‘ACR 5/6’ and ‘ACR 4/5’ criteria for remission were satisfied by 34 (16.42%) and 44 patients (21.25%) patients, respectively. DAS 28 score of 2.94 (sensitivity 84.4%, specificity 85.3%) and DAS 28-3 score of 3.02 (sensitivity 82.1%, specificity 82.4) best defined the ‘ACR 5/6’ remission. Corresponding values using ‘ACR 4/5’ remission were 3.04 (sensitivity 85.9%, specificity 84.1%) for DAS 28 and 3.05 (sensitivity 82.2%, specificity 81.8%) for DAS 28-3.ConclusionsA cutoff value < 3 for both DAS 28 and DAS 28-3 defines remission in RA in Indian patients.     

Comparison of the 1987 American College of Rheumatology and the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League against Rheumatism criteria for classification of rheumatoid arthritis in the Nurses’ Health Study cohorts

Performance of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) classification by the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria, compared to the 1987 ACR criteria, has not been assessed in population-based cohorts in which disease identification is by mailed questionnaire. Women followed in the Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ Health Study II cohorts self-reported new doctor-diagnosed RA on biennial questionnaires. Two RA experts reviewed medical records of 128 new RA self-reports to obtain individual 1987 and 2010 criteria and arrived at a consensus opinion. We compared agreement in classification by the two criteria sets (kappa), and calculated sensitivity and specificity, with reviewers’ opinion as gold standard. Ninety-eight (77 %) participants were classified as RA by reviewers’ consensus opinion; 98 (77 %) fulfilled 1987 criteria, while 79 (63 %) fulfilled 2010 criteria. Seventy-two (56 %) were classified as RA by both sets, 21 (16 %) by neither, 26 (20 %) by only 1987 criteria, and 9 (7 %) by only 2010 criteria. Kappa for concordance was 0.36 (95 % CI 0.20–0.53). Compared to reviewer’s opinion, sensitivity and specificity were 0.93 and 0.77 for 1987 criteria, and 0.79 and 0.87 for 2010 criteria. Participants fulfilling 1987 criteria only were more likely to be seronegative. In these prospective population-based cohorts, significant discordance between 1987 ACR and 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria for classifying RA exists. Using the 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria alone had decreased sensitivity, and seronegative RA cases would be excluded in particular. Combined use of both will be necessary to maximize inclusion and allow sensitivity analyses.     

Value of Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and DAS28-3 compared to American College of Rheumatology-defined remission in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the criteria for remission based on Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and DAS28-3 (excluding patients' evaluation of disease activity) compared to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) preliminary criteria in established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to examine the value of each ACR criterion individually. METHODS: The EMECAR study was designed to assess the burden of comorbidity and inflammatory activity for RA in Spain. A random sample of 788 patients with RA from 34 Spanish centers was selected. Remission was defined by preliminary ACR criteria applied specifically and the clinical activity assessed by the DAS28 and the DAS28-3. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed to identify cutoff values with the highest usefulness in defining remission on both DAS indices. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (4.1%) were in ACR-defined remission, 62 (7.9%) if fatigue was excluded from the criteria. The frequency of any single criterion that patients in remission fulfilled: no fatigue and joint pain by anamnesis in 31 patients (96.9%); morning stiffness < 15 min in 26 (81.3%); no swelling in joints in 21 (65.6%); normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 29 (90.6%); and no joint tenderness in 21 (65.6%) patients. The positive predictive value for remission of each criterion: normal ESR 6.5%; morning stiffness < 15 min 8.4%; no fatigue 8.7%; no joint tenderness 13%; no swelling in joints 15.8%; and no joint pain by anamnesis 27.7%. The DAS28 cutoff values with higher discriminatory power for remission were 3.14 (sensitivity 87%; specificity 67%) when all the ACR criteria were used, and 2.81 (sensitivity 84%; specificity 81%) when fatigue was omitted. The equivalent cutoffs for the DAS28-3 were 3.52 (sensitivity 84%; specificity 66%) and 2.95 (sensitivity 82%; specificity 83%), respectively. CONCLUSION: DAS28 and DAS28-3 are good tools to define remission in established RA. No joint pain by anamnesis is the criterion with the highest value in defining remission, while normal ESR, an absence of morning stiffness, and fatigue are the least effective.