Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in remission with a combination of TNFinhibitors (TNFi) and methotrexate (MTX) often express their wish to stop MTX treatment because of side effects. Given the efficacy of TNFi it is conceivable that in early RA patients in remission with methotrexate (MTX)/TNFi stepwise discontinuation of MTX prior to TNFi is superior in maintaining sustained remission and reaching drug free remission as compared to discontinuation of TNFi prior to MTX.