New guidelines underscore that rheumatoid arthritis remission is possible and helps patients better gauge their health.

New guidelines has been created and agreed that define remission for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It’s intended to help researchers set standards during clinical trials, but doctors say this is a milestone for patients too. Since it will give a person a gauge as to how well they’re doing.

The American College of Rheumatism and the European League Against Rheumatism were part of a committee that analyzed RA clinical trial data and surveyed committee members to create two new RA remission definitions that are published in the March issues of Arthritis & Rheumatism and the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

One definition says to be considered in remission, patients need to meet four goals:

1. One or less swollen joints

2. One or less tender joints

3. An assessment by the patient that on a zero-to-10 scale, the arthritis activity is one or less

4. A blood test showing little or no inflammation in their levels of C-reactive protein, a key biomarker of inflammation.

Second definition: Uses the Simplified Disease Activity Index to measure disease activity.  It consists of a sum score of the four measures in the first definition plus a physician assessment.

Reference: http://www.arthritistoday.org/news/rheumatoid-arthritis-remission115.php