DAS Score

I am sure that this will benefit all

I always struggle to understand the DAS score

Please will someone explain as mine was assessed at 5.19.

[helixhelix]

Basically 5.19 means you hurt and have loads of painful joints - but you knew that anyway!

DAS - or disease activity score - is a method used to try to have a uniform and standard way to describe how active each person's disease is. It's a calculation from counting the number of tender and swollen joints you have, your lastest blood test ESR or CRP levels, and how you say you feel out of 10 (1 = good, 10= rubbish).

Anyway less than 2.6 means you are considered to be in remission, and 5.1 or over is considered to be severe activity and eligible for biologics. In between is low or moderate disease activity.

The theory is fine, but the practice is not perfect. Only 28 joints are used in the assessment which annoys a lot of people as it excludes feet. They used to use 44 joints including feet, but was shown not to make much difference. And some people (me included) have naturally low inflammation levels which means that it easy for doctors to discount how active my disease really is.

NRAS have good info on it, and an app so you can calculate your own. Start here....

nras.org.uk/what-is-das28-

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Hi Helix

I was hoping for you to reply as I have learned a lot from you already.

Just looking at my recent blood results

white cell 11.86

HB 139

Neutrophils 8.99

Platelets 300

MCV 87.2

Crp 2

Creatine 99.1

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

Your DAS score is worked out by your Rheumy physically testing your joints & asking you how much more painful one joint is over another.

Each joint is given a score & together with your blood test results it is used to submit for funding to your local health authority if your rheumy's is thinking of recommending you try Biologic drugs.

As HH says it's not an exact science..but for now that's how it works,

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

I have low inflammation on my joints and they only show on mri

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

With experience rheumies can work out your DAS score from your answers about pain levels & from what he feels in your joints & what he sees in your blood results & what your joints look like.

Depending on the rule applied by your health authority you have to have failed on 2 or 3 Dmards, including Methotrexate, to be eligible for Biologic drugs,

Speak to your Rheumy nurse...she will be able to explain the regulations in place for your particular area.

[nomoreheels]

The DAS 28 has already been explained well. Your Rheumy is the one to be relied upon most but this dmay help you in the future if you wish to test yourself, in addition you'll just need your inflammation markers (ESR & CRP) blood test results 4s-dawn.com/DAS28/