The outcome is measured as changes in symptoms observed through self-reported health, clinical examination, imaging and soluble biomarkers.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In collaboration with Danish researchers, we have shown that early and aggressive treatment with methotrexate and intra-articular steroid injections is an effective and secure treatment in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (Hetland et al, 2009.)
This treatment principle has been included in the Danish national recommendations for treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Axial spondyloarthritis
In a Danish multicenter study, we have demonstrated that assessing disease activity with a new instrument the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), which is based on patient-reported outcomes and the serum concentration of C reactive protein, is as least as good as the conventional measures of disease activity (Pedersen et al., 2010).