Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and lipid profile of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and controls
| Controls (N = 63) | Patients | ||
| Baseline (N = 58) | Post treatment (N = 56) | ||
| Sex (male/female) | 20/43 | 14/44 | 13/43 |
| Age (years) | 58.4 ± 17.7 | 53.6 ± 15.3 | 54.7 ± 14.8 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25.8 ± 17.7 | 25.5 ± 3.3 | 25.8 ± 3.1 |
| IgM rheumatoid factor (+/-) | 0/0 | 45/13 | 44/13 |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dl) | 2.1 ± 1.3 | 28.15 ± 20.75 | 4.60 ± 4.20a |
| ESR (mm/h) | 5.2 ± 3.1 | 48.0 ± 19.7 | 14.6 ± 8.7a |
| DAS-28 | - | 5.8 ± 0.9 | 2.7 ± 1.0a |
| TC (mg/dl) | 190.4 ± 33.9 | 216.5 ± 50.3b | 228.1 ± 42.1c |
| LDL-C (mg/dl) | 126.5 ± 31.3 | 141.6 ± 42.3b | 140.4 ± 32.4 |
| HDL-C (mg/dl) | 51.1 ± 7.4 | 47.5 ± 11.82 | 60.7 ± 13.4a |
| NonHDL-C (mg/dl) | 139.3 ± 30.2 | 172.0 ± 46.3b | 167.4 ± 37.4 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) | 97.1 ± 28.3 | 133.0 ± 58.2b | 131.5 ± 56.1 |
| TC/HDL-C | 3.7 ± 0.9 | 4.9 ± 1.3b | 3.8 ± 0.8a |
| LDL-C/HDL-C | 2.5 ± 0.8 | 3.0 ± 1.0b | 2.4 ± 0.6a |
| Apolipoprotein B (mg/dl) | 93 ± 19 | 103 ± 28b | 105 ± 30 |
| Apolipoprotein A-I (mg/dl) | 144 ± 23 | 127 ± 27d | 152 ± 22a |
Values represent the mean ± standard deviation. ap < 0.001 and cp < 0.05 compared to the baseline values; bp < 0.001 and dp < 0.01 compared to the control group. DAS-28, disease activity for 28 joint indices score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TC, total cholesterol.