Humira in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Do Bone Erosions Heal?

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology 1987 criteria
* Moderate or severely active RA, defined as a DAS28(CRP)\> 3.2
* Moderate radiographic structural joint damage, defined as Larsen grade 2-3, in ≥ 2 wrist and/or MCP joints
* No previous biological therapy
* Clinical indication for biological therapy, according to the treating physician
* Treatment with methotrexate and folic acid for at least 4 weeks prior to inclusion
* No history of tuberculosis, and no signs of tuberculosis at chest radiograph or Mantoux test.
* No contra-indications for TNF-alpha antagonist treatment
* Co-operability of the patient, including that the patient is willing and able to comply with the treatment and scheduled follow-up visits and examinations
* Oral and signed informed consent by the patient

Exclusion Criteria:

* Acute infection, and known chronic viral infection such as HIV or hepatitis B and C
* Other DMARDs than methotrexate within last 4 weeks before inclusion
* Intramuscular or intraarticular glucocorticoids within last 4 weeks before inclusion
* Oral treatment with prednisolone \>10 mg per day
* Malignant lymphoma and other malignant disease
* Other serious concomitant diseases (uncontrolled/severe kidney, liver, haematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological or cerebral disease (including demyelinating disease))
* Pregnancy and lactation. Patients must use safe anti-conception during the treatment.
* Development of SLE-like disease. Occurrence of positive ANA and/or anti-DNA antibodies without clinical symptoms is not considered a contra-indication.
* Contra-indications for MRI