Can rheumatoid arthritis (RA) go into remission?

While there is not a lot of data to support this conclusion, the belief is that as high as 20 percent of patients with classic RA (rheumatoid factor positive) experience periods of remission. Unfortunately, these remissions are short-lived - less than six months - without drug therapy.

It is difficult to know if your rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will go into remission because most patients do not stay in contact with their rheumatologist during periods when symptoms are not present.