Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the ESPOIR patients who received methotrexate or its equivalent as a first-line biologic agent for rheumatoid arthritis.
| SD-treated patients (number = 370) |
All ESPOIR patients (number = 813) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 49.4 ± 11.4 (51.5) | 48.1 ± 12.5 (50.1) |
| Female sex | 271 (73.2%) | 624 (76.7%) |
| Disease duration, weeks | 15.2 ± 15.4 (57.7) | 31.6 ± 37.1 (21.3) |
| Swollen joint count in 28 joints | 7.9 ± 5.4 (7) | 7.2 ± 5.4 (6) |
| Tender joint count in 28 joints | 8.7 ± 6.9 (7) | 8.4 ± 7 (6) |
| ESR, mm/1st hour | 32.7 ± 25 (26) | 29.4 ± 24.6 (22) |
| CRP, mg/L | 24.8 ± 37.7 (11) | 20.3 ± 32.4 (9) |
| DAS28(ESR)-4v | 5.4 ± 1.2 (5.2) | 5.1 ± 1.3 (5.1) |
| IgM RF positivity | 204 (55.1%) | 376 (45.8%) |
| ACPA positivity | 185 (50%) | 315 (38.8%) |
| Typical erosion on radiographs | 66 (17.8%) | 100 (13.6%) |
| vSHS score | 6.02 ± 9.7 [54] | 3.71 ± 5.71 [54] |
| ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria | 316 (85.4%) | 582 (79.1%) |
| HAQ score | 1.03 ± 0.7 (1) | 0.979 ± 0.684 |
| First-line agent: | ||
| - No DMARDs | n.a. | 207 (25.5%) |
| - DMARDs without structural effect | n.a. | 117 (14.4%) |
| - Methotrexate or leflunomide | 370 (100%) | 396 (48.7%) |
| - Other DMARDs with structural effect | n.a. | 56 (6.9%) |
| - Tumor necrosis factor blockers alone or in combination | n.a. | 37 (4.6%) |
Data are mean ± SD (median) or number (%); n.a.; not available. Baseline CRP level (normally < 10 mg/l), IgM and IgA RF (ELISA, Menarini, France; positive > 9 UI/ml) and anti-CCP2 antibodies (ACPA; ELISA, DiaSorin, France; positive > 50 U/ml) were detected in all patients with the same technique in a central lab (Paris-Bichat). ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibody; ACR/EULAR, American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28(ESR)-4v, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints-4 variables, using erythrocyte sedimentation rate; DMARD, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; IgM, immunoglobulin M; RF, rheumatoid factor; SD, synthetic DMARD; vSHS, van der Heijde-modified Sharp score.