1. Morning stiffness
Morning stiffness in and around the joints lasting at least 1 hour.
2. Arthritis in three or more joint areas
Arthritis in three or more joint areas, involving the PIP, MCP, wrist,
elbow, knee, ankle or MTP joints on the right or left
Soft-tissue swelling or fluid (but not bony overgrowth) observed by a
physician, present simultaneously for at least 6 weeks
3. Arthritis of the hand joints
Swelling of wrist, MCP or hand joints for at least 6 weeks
4. Symmetrical arthritis
Simultaneous involvement of the same joint areas (defined in 2 above)
on both sides of the body (bilateral involvement of PIP, MCP or MTP
joints is acceptable without absolute symmetry) for at least 6 weeks
5. Rheumatoid nodules
Subcutaneous nodules over bony prominences, extensor surfaces or in
juxta-articular regions, observed by a physician.
6. Rheumatoid factor
Detected by a method positive in fewer than 5% of normal controls.
7. Radiographic changes
Typical of RA on posteroanterior hand and wrist radiographs
These must include erosions or unequivocal bony decalcification
localised in or most marked adjacent to the involved joints (OA
changes alone do not qualify)
