Letter to the Editor (other) doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kes383

Self-assessment of 28-joint disease activity scores by patients with rheumatoid arthritis on anti-TNF therapy SIR, RA is a chronic inflammatory disorder with resultant progressive joint destruction. There is extensive evidence today to support the benefit of early diagnosis and treat-ment in the long-term prognosis of RA. The DAS is a vali-dated index for monitoring disease activity and treatment response in RA [1]. It is calculated by assessing the 28 tender joint count (TJC 28), 28 swollen joint count (SJC 28), measuring ESR or CRP and using a visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess well-being [2]. A recent study showed that the level of disease activity at 3 months is a prognostic marker of health utilization and costs [3]