Table 2.
Mean ± SE values for clinical, laboratory, and PDUS parameters at the baseline and follow-up assessments
| Parameter | Baseline | 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TJC (0–28) | 7.5 ± 1.2 | 4.8 ± 0.7 | 3.2 ± 0.9† | 2 ± 0.6† | 2.8 ± 0.8† | 3.3 ± 1.6 |
| SJC (0–28) | 6.3 ± 1.4 | 7 ± 2.9 | 5.9 ± 2.1 | 5.1 ± 2.1 | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 2.7 ± 1.1 |
| gVAS (0–100) | 71.2 ± 7.0 | 45.7 ± 10.8† | 19.7 ± 4.0‡ | 19.3 ± 3.8‡ | 26.3 ± 12.8† | 22.3 ± 8.2§ |
| CDAI | 26.9 ± 2.6 | 18.5 ± 2.6 | 12 ± 2.1‡ | 8.9 ± 0.6‡ | 10.6 ± 3.6† | 9.8 ± 3.5‡ |
| CRP, mg/dL | 2.66 ± 1.30 | 0.21 ± 0.17 | 0.17 ± 0.15 | 0.12 ± 0.08 | 0.02 ± 0.01 | 0.03 ± 0.01 |
| MMP-3, ng/mL | 358.2 ± 100.5 | 234.9 ± 78.1 | 128.3 ± 22.1 | 107.1 ± 29.5 | 65.5 ± 9.38† | 59.1 ± 13.2† |
| DAS28 | 5.18 ± 0.23 | 3.58 ± 0.31‡ | 2.84 ± 0.33§ | 2.59 ± 0.20§ | 2.59 ± 0.43‡ | 2.47 ± 0.43‡ |
| Total PD score | 15 ± 5.3 | 11.7 ± 3.1 | 6.7 ± 2.6 | 5.6 ± 2.5 | 5.3 ± 2.4 | 4.3 ± 2.1† |
PDUS power Doppler ultrasonography, TJC tender joint count, SJC swollen joint count, gVAS visual analog scale for patient’s general assessment, CDAI Clinical Disease Activity Index, CRP C-reactive protein, MMP-3 matrix metalloproteinase-3, DAS28 Disease Activity Score in 28 joints calculated by using CRP
† P < 0.05 versus the baseline data, by pairwise comparison
‡ P < 0.01 versus the baseline data, by pairwise comparison
§ P < 0.001 versus the baseline data, by pairwise comparison