Table 1.

Features of poor prognosis and disease activity for a history of arthritis of 4 or fewer joints

Features of poor prognosis (must satisfy 1)

Arthritis of the hip (23---25) or cervical spine

Arthritis of the ankle (25---27) or wrist (26,28) AND marked (29) or prolonged (23,25,26,29,30) inflammatory marker elevation

Radiographic damage (erosions or joint space narrowing by radiograph) (31)

Disease activity levels

Low disease activity (must satisfy all)

1 or fewer active joints

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein level normal

Physician global assessment of overall disease activity <3 of 10

Patient/parent global assessment of overall well-being <2 of 10

Moderate disease activity (does not satisfy criteria for low or high activity)

1 or more features greater than low disease activity level AND fewer than 3 features of high disease activity

High disease activity (must satisfy at least 3)

2 or more active joints

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate or C-reactive protein level greater than twice upper limit of normal

Physician global assessment of overall disease activity ≥7 of 10

Patient/parent global assessment of overall well-being ≥4 of 10