Table 1.
Patient description of demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics
| RA | Non-RA | ||
| (n = 45) | (n = 21) | P | |
| Age (years) | 47 ± 13 | 40 ± 13 | 0.02 |
| Female (%) | 28 (62) | 8 (38) | NS |
| Caucasian (%) | 38 (84) | 21 (100) | NS |
| Total joint count (n) | 23 ± 12 | 7 ± 9 | <0.0001 |
| Swollen joint count (n) | 17 ± 12 | 5 ± 8 | <0.0001 |
| ESR (mm/h) | 45 ± 31 | 41 ± 34 | NS |
| CRP (mg/dl) | 2.2 ± 2.4 | 1.9 ± 3.9 | NS |
| RF >20 (n) | 32 (71) | 0 | <0.0001 |
| Erosions (%) | 12 (27) | 0 | 0.006 |
| Prednisone (%) | 14 (31) | 3 (14) | NS |
| DMARD (%) | 10 (22) | 1 (5) | 0.07 |
| Antibiotics (%) | 5 (11) | 2 (10) | 0.8 |
Comparisons were made between groups. Values are presented either as means ± standard deviation or as total numbers (%).CRP,C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF = Rheumatoid factor.