The Journal of rheumatology. Supplement
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The Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials Conference has significantly contributed to the field of clinical outcome measurement. Agreement was achieved in designating a preliminary core set of 8 endpoints to be used as a minimum in every rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trial of > or = 1 year: acute phase reactants, disability, pain, patient global assessment, physician global assessment, swollen joint count, tender joint count, and radiographic studies of joints. ⋯ The discussions made it clear that to select one intervention definitively over another, one must additionally consider outcomes such as drug toxicity, costs, and mortality. These aspects need to be explored systematically at subsequent conferences.
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Primary fibromyalgia remains a controversial and puzzling condition. The diagnosis is based on subjective symptoms, exclusionary criteria and the presence of tender points. ⋯ The utility of this approach is illustrated from research with groups of patients with chronic pain. The implications of the multiaxial taxometric approach for understanding primary fibromyalgia and its treatment are described.