Acr response criteria

Rheumatological effectiveness parameter of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR20-ACR70) for measuring the success of therapy, which has become generally accepted, especially in clinical studies.

• The ACR response criteria evaluate whether the therapy has led to an improvement of predefined symptoms. An ACR20 efficiency is present, for example, if the patient has experienced at least 20% improvement of the following parameters compared to the initial value:
• Number of sensitive/painful joints
• Number of swollen joints
• In addition, 3 of the following 5 parameters must show an improvement of > 20% compared to the initial value:
• physician's global assessment of the arthritic condition
• Patient's global assessment of the arthritic condition
• Pain (visual analogue scale (VAS)
• HAQ functional disability index (HAQ)
• CRP value (CRP, S-reactive protein).

For modern, effective substances, especially from the group of long-acting antirheumatic drugs, a > 50% improvement is demanded today. The following clinical and laboratory parameters are determined: number of pressure-sensitive and swollen joints as well as 3 out of 5 of the criteria pain, global assessment by patient and examiner, blood sedimentation, C-reactive protein.