DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE EUROPEAN-LEAGUE-AGAINST-RHEUMATISM RESPONSE CRITERIA FOR RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - COMPARISON WITH THE PRELIMINARY AMERICAN-COLLEGE-OF-RHEUMATOLOGY AND THE WORLD-HEALTH-ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL-LEAGUE-AGAINST-RHEUMATISM CRITERIA

Objective. To validate the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), acid the World Health Org anization (WHO)/International League Against Rheumatism (ILAR) respons e criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. EULAR response crit eria were developed combining change from baseline and level of diseas e activity attained during followup, In a trial comparing hydroxychlor oquine and sulfasalazine, we studied construct (radiographic progressi on), criterion (functional capacity), and discriminant validity. Resul ts. EULAR response criteria had good construct, criterion, and discrim inant validity, ACR and WHO/ILAR criteria showed only good criterion v alidity. Conclusion. EULAR response criteria showed better construct a nd discriminant validity than did the ACR and the WHO/ILAR response cr iteria for RA.