Flares in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

 

Patient selection: rheumatoid arthritis

 

Features of a flare:

(1) a worsening of disease activity and an increase in symptoms

(2) initially it may cause the patient to decrease physical activity or to use ice or heat

(3) if persistent may result in the start of or change in therapy

 

Symptoms that may be involved in a flare:

(1) pain

(2) tender and/or swollen joints

(3) morning stiffness

(4) impaired function

(5) fatigue

 

Flares may be associated with an increase in serum CRP concentration.

 

van der Maas et al found the following DAS-28 based flare criteria was:

(1) an increase in DAS28 > 1.2 OR

(2) an increase in DAS28 > 0.6 if baseline DAS28>= 3.2