Table 1.
Clinical characteristics at the diagnosis of NXP2+ DM between patients with and without gastrointestinal involvements
| Total (n=56) | GI involvement (n=10) | Non-GI involvement (n=46) | P value | |
| Sex (male) | 18 (32.1%) | 1 (10%) | 17 (36.4%) | 0.076 |
| Age, mean±SD | 45.1±19.4 | 45.1±19.6 | 45.1±19.6 | 0.995 |
| Clinical manifestations | ||||
| Rash | 48 | 9 (90.0%) | 39 (84.8%) | 0.669 |
| Myalgia | 35 | 8 (80.0%) | 27 (58.7) | 0.207 |
| Muscle weakness | 49 | 10 (100%) | 39 (84.8%) | 0.330 |
| Arthralgia | 11 | 1 (10.0%) | 10 (21.7%) | 0.397 |
| Dysphagia | 31 | 7 (70.0%) | 24 (52.2%) | 0.304 |
| Subcutaneous oedema | 24 | 6 (60.0%) | 18 (39.1%) | 0.277 |
| Interstitial lung disease | 17 | 6 (60.0%) | 11 (23.9%) | 0.024* |
| Calcinosis | 8 | 6 (60.0%) | 2 (4.34%) | 0.000** |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| CRP, median (IQR) | 5.21 (2.7–17.46) | 5.21 (2.7–17.46) | 4.61 (1.1–9.74) | 0.533 |
| ESR, median (IQR) | 21 (11–40) | 32 (13–50) | 20 (9–39) | 0.305 |
| SF, median (IQR) | 515 (261–1295) | 646 (305–1356) | 479 (252–1277) | 0.476 |
| CKmax, median (IQR) | 3000 (751–7488) | 2558 (1322–4017) | 3602 (605–8607) | 0.600 |
| WBC, median (IQR) | 8.05 (6.07–11.75) | 8.14 (5.17–10.98) | 8.05 (6.27–11.83) | 0.803 |
| Neu, median (IQR) | 6.77 (4.49–9.54) | 7.10 (3.92–10.18) | 6.67 (4.48–9.18) | 0.973 |
| Lym, median (IQR) | 0.86 (0.57–1.26) | 0.57 (0.43–0.88) | 0.87 (0.68–1.35) | 0.033* |
| Hb, median (IQR) | 113 (103–132) | 90 (88–99) | 115 (108–135) | 0.000** |
| Plt, median (IQR) | 212 (144–249) | 152 (96–268) | 216 (167–248) | 0.203 |
| Treatment | ||||
| GCmax mg/d | 110.5±100 | 111.7±73.3 | 110.3±101.6 | 0.969 |
| Immunosuppressants | 1.6±1 | 1.5±0.9 | 2.1±2.0 | 0.175 |
| IVIg | 27 | 8 (80%) | 20 (45.4%) | 0.073 |
| The autoantibodies | 29 | 5 | 24 | 0.956 |
| Deceased | 10 | 4 (40.0%) | 6 (13.0%) | 0.044* |
Age was presented as mean and SD, while other variables as median and IQR.
*P<0.05. **p<0.01.
CKmax, creatine kinase maximum; CRP, C-reactive protein; DM, dermatomyositis; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GCmax, glucocorticoids maximum (prednisolone equivalent); Hb, haemoglobin; IVIg, intravenous immunoglobulin; Lym, lymphocyte; Neu, neutrophil; NXP2, nuclear matrix protein 2; Plt, platelet; SF, serum ferritin; WBC, white blood cell.