Table 1.

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic	Rituximab (2 × 1000 mg) PRN (n = 257)	Rituximab (2 × 1000 mg) TT (n = 236)
Gender: female, %	78	82
Age, mean (s.d.) years	52 (11.3)	52 (12.5)
Median disease duration (IQR), years	8.5 (3.9–14.9)	3.6 (1.5–9.9)
No. of previous DMARDs, mean (s.d.)	2.0 (1.20)	1.2 (1.19)
Concomitant steroids, %	49	48
Concomitant NSAIDs, %	53	56
Swollen joint count (0–66), mean (s.d.)	20 (10.8)	19 (10.2)
Tender joint count (0–68), mean (s.d.)	32 (15.1)	30 (14.8)
CRP, mean (s.d.), mg/l	3.1 (3.44)	2.1 (2.44)
ESR, mean (s.d.), mm/h	42.7 (24.2)	45.1 (27.1)
HAQ-DI (0–3 range), mean (s.d.)	1.7 (0.57)	1.6 (0.64)
DAS-28-ESR, mean (s.d.)	6.7 (0.95)	6.6 (1.03)
RF+, %	81	73
Anti-CCP+, %	78	80

Data are mean (±SD) or number (%) unless otherwise stated. Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide; NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RF, rheumatoid factor.