Figure 2  .

Laboratory outcome parameters. The median erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) decreased significantly from 31 to 8, 7.5, 9, and 12.5 mm/h after one, two, three, and six months respectively (p<0.05, indicated by asterisks). The median C reactive protein (CRP) level significantly decreased from 41.3 to 5.5, 7.1, 6.5, and 6.9 mg/l after one, two, three, and 6 months respectively (p<0.05, indicated by asterisks). The median IL6 level decreased from 34.2 to 6.3 pg/ml, after one month. Thereafter it remained undetectable in sera from five of the six patients (data not shown).