To identify a combination of clinical factors associated with low disease activity and remission in the third trimester during pregnancy in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
This study is embedded in the Pregnancy-Induced Amelioration of Rheumatoid Arthritis study, a prospective cohort study. There were data available on 190 pregnancies from first trimester until delivery. Multivariate regression analyses were performed on the disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints [DAS28] using the C-reactive protein [CRP] level) in the third trimester. Independent covariates were the DAS28-CRP-3 in first trimester, prednisone and sulfasalazine use in the first trimester, parity, methotrexate use in the past, autoantibody status, the presence of erosions, and RA disease duration.
In multivariate regression models, the DAS28-CRP-3, use of prednisone in the first trimester, and the presence of autoantibodies were negatively associated with low disease activity (DAS28-CRP-3 <3.2) in the third trimester (P < 0.05), and the DAS28-CRP-3 and presence of autoantibodies were also associated with remission (DAS28-CRP-3 <2.6) (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the associations of prednisone use and presence of autoantibodies were only present in patients with moderate-to-high disease activity (DAS28-CRP-3 ≥3.2) in the first trimester.
RA patients who have a low DAS28-CRP-3 in the first trimester (irrespective of autoantibody status or prednisone use) are likely to have low disease activity or remission in the third trimester. Also, women with higher disease activity who are not taking prednisone and who express no autoantibodies still have a fair chance of low disease activity in the last trimester.