Table 1.
Characteristics of patients and treatments
| Parameter | Methotrexate | All other DMARDs |
| Number | 86 | 77 |
| Age (years [mean ± SD]) | 60.7 ± 12.9 | 63.6 ± 11.9 |
| Rheumatoid Factor (% positive) | 70.9% | 64.9% |
| Sex (% female) | 86.0% | 79.2% |
| Disease duration (years [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX) | 9.5 ± 8.3/13.3 ± 8.6 | 7.5 ± 8.5/12.6 ± 8.6 |
| Prior DMARDs (median [range]; oMTX/rMTX) | 1 (0–6)/4 (2–9) | 1 (0–8)/3 (2–10) |
| Baseline dose (mg/week [median (1st-3rd quartile)]; oMTX/rMTX) | 10.0 (7.5–15.0)/15.0 (10.0–20.0) | -/- |
| Base line CRP (mg/l [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX) | 33.4 ± 26.2/29.1 ± 31.0 | 15.2 ± 16.8/18.3 ± 23.0 |
| Base line ESR (mm/hour [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX) | 47.0 ± 30.0/35.0 ± 22.0 | 30 ± 13/32 ± 22 |
CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; oMTX, original methotrexate course; rMTX, re-employed methotrexate course; SD, standard deviation.