There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
The Disease Activity Score (DAS), its modified version the DAS28, and the DAS-based
European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria are well-known measures
of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The DAS is a clinical index of RA
disease activity that combines information from swollen joints, tender joints, the
acute phase response, and general health. The EULAR response criteria classify individual
patients as non-, moderate, or good responders, depending on the extent of change
and the level of disease activity reached. The DAS, DAS28, and EULAR response criteria
have been validated extensively. For daily practice, it has been shown that a tight
control strategy, including measurement of disease activity using the DAS and planned
adjustment of antirheumatic medication, is an effective strategy for RA. This article
summarizes the development and validation of the DAS and DAS28 and their use in clinical
trials and practice for the clinician.