The PARA-study reconfirmed previous data that RA improved during pregnancy. However, it also showed that this improvement was less pronounced than previously thought since > 50% of RA-patients still had active disease during third trimester of pregnancy. It also demonstrated that active RA was associated with lower birth weight and that children of mothers with active RA demonstrated rapid catch up growth in weight. Lower birth weight as well as rapid catch up growth in weight have been shown to be associated with a less favorable cardiovascular profile in early adulthood. Finally, it showed that time to pregnancy is prolonged in RA-patients with active disease. Also the use of prednisone > 7,5 mg daily or the use of NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) were associated with a prolonged time to pregnancy. These latter associations were independent of disease activity.