TY - JOUR T1 - Changes in Overall Health May Have Caused Recent Declines in Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1065 LP - 1065 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.091361 VL - 37 IS - 5 AU - THEODORE PINCUS AU - BENJAMIN ABELSON AU - TUULIKKI SOKKA Y1 - 2010/05/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/37/5/1065.2.abstract N2 - To the Editor:We appreciate Dr. Anderson’s interesting comments, and would offer the following: The data presented did not involve a metaanalysis, but rather a compilation of reports that included data concerning mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that included a baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). As noted in the report1, a computer search for “erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)” and “rheumatoid arthritis (RA)” yielded about 86,000 reports. Even if it were possible to examine all these reports (which would require years), the results would likely have been similar to the reported data, which are consistent with clinical findings2,3. ESR tests were performed … Address reprint requests to Dr. Pincus; E-mail: tedpincus{at}gmail.com ER -