Table 1.
Patient demographics and clinical characteristics at baseline
| Control group (n = 64) | Tocilizumab group (n = 61) | |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||
| Age (years) | 50.8 ± 12.2 | 52.6 ± 10.6 |
| Male:female ratio | 16:48 | 6:55 |
| Clinical characteristics | ||
| RA duration (years) | 8.7 ± 7.1 | 8.5 ± 8.4 |
| No. of failed DMARDs, mean (range) | 3.6 (1–8) | 3.3 (1–8) |
| Functional classa, I/II/III/IV | 7:50:7:0 | 2:49:10:0 |
| RA Stagea, I/II/III/IV | 3:18:17:26 | 1:20:22:18 |
| Tender joint count, 0–49 scale | 14.2 ± 8.6 | 13.8 ± 7.5 |
| Swollen joint count, 0–46 scale | 12.7 ± 7.5 | 12.4 ± 5.9 |
| ESR (mm/h) | 51.9 ± 24.0 | 51.9 ± 27.7 |
| CRP (mg/l) | 32 ± 26 | 30 ± 20 |
| DAS28 | 6.2 ± 0.9 | 6.1 ± 0.9 |
| VEGF (pg/ml) | 730.8 ± 445.6 | 711.3 ± 417.4 |
Except where indicated otherwise values are mean ± SD
Tocilizumab humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody; RA rheumatoid arthritis; ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP C-reactive protein; DAS28 Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
aRA functional status determined by the American College of Rheumatology criteria. RA stage determined by Steinbrocker’s criteria