THU0274 Ultrasonographic Inflammatory Activity Predicts Relapse in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission

Background Remission is the current aim of treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Remission is ideally the absence of detectable disease and absence of structural and functional worsening over the time. Infra-clinical synovitis, detected by ultrasound, may persist in patients with remission leading to further structural damage. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of relapse after clinical remission and the value of US to predict this relapse. Methods A prospective study of 30 patients followed-up for RA in remission was conducted. The remission was defined by a Disease Activity Score 28 joints (DAS28) ≤2,6 for at least 3 months under the same therapy. A B-mode and Power Doppler (PD) US examination was assessed by an experienced rheumatologist blinded to clinical data for 22 joints (wrists, 10 metacarpo-phalangeals, 10 proximal interphalangeals joints). A semi-quantitative scale running from 0 to 3 depending on US activity was attributed for each joint for PD. Patients were clinically controlled 3 to 6 months after performing the US. The variability of DAS28 was noted, it was considered significant if the p value