Using a DAS28-CRP-steered treat-to-target strategy does not eliminate subclinical inflammation as assessed by ultrasonography in rheumatoid arthritis patients in longstanding clinical remission

Table 3 Proportion of patients in ultrasound remission for the hands only according to different ultrasound remission cut-offs

Patients in DAS28CRP-remission
	All patients (n = 87)	csDMARD patients (n = 45)	bDMARD patients (n = 42)	Difference between treatment groups (p value)
Bilateral wrist and MCP2–5 only
Ultrasound strict remission	6 (7%)	0 (0%)	6 (14%)	0.009
Ultrasound semi-strict remission	43 (49%)	23 (51%)	20 (48%)	0.75
Ultrasound Doppler remission	52 (60%)	27 (60%)	25 (60%)	0.96

Values are given as number of patients and percentage. Comparison between groups by Pearson Chi-Square with p < 0.05 considered significant
Ultrasound strict remission no joints with GS score > 0 and Doppler score > 0, ultrasound semi-strict remission no joints with GS score > 1 and Doppler score > 0, ultrasound Doppler remission no joints with Doppler score, csDMARD conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, bDMARD biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug, MCP metacarpophalangeal joint, GS grey scale

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