Key clinical point: Joint swelling associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) tends to recur in the same joints swollen at RA onset, even in patients who are intensively treated.
Major finding: Overall, 46% of joints swollen at baseline showed swelling recurrence at least once during follow-up. Baseline joint swelling was predictive for swelling during follow-up (odds ratio [OR] 2.37; P < .001) and recurrent, persistent swelling in joints swollen (OR 1.52) and not swollen (OR 1.73) at the previous visit (both P < .001).
Study details: This is a subanalysis of the BeSt ( Behandel-Strategieën) study , a treat-to-target trial involving 508 patients with newly diagnosed active RA followed up for a median of 10 years.
Disclosures: The original BeSt study was funded by a research grant from the Dutch College of Health Insurances with additional funding from Schering-Plough BV and Centocor Inc.
Source: Heckert SL et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Aug 30. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220882 .