Table 1.
Demographics and baseline characteristics
| Group 1 (n = 9) | Group 2 (n = 11) | |
| Age (yr) | 38.1 ± 13.5 | 44.6 ± 16.6 |
| Gender (male/female) | 6/3 | 6/5 |
| Smoking habit (smoker/non- smoker/former-smoker) | 0/7/2 | 0/4/7 |
| Steroid dose at study entrance (mg/d) | 43 ± 10.31 | 35 ± 14.91 |
| Previous medications | ||
| 5-ASA | 9 | 11 |
| Azathioprine | 5 | 6 |
| Methotrexate | 0 | 1 |
| Cyclosporin A | 1 | 3 |
| Disease duration (mo) | 36 ± 32.3 | 78 ± 42.8 |
| Nº of previous flares in the last 12 mo | 2.33 ± 0.71 | 2.22 ± 1.09 |
| Nº of previous admissions to hospital | 1.33 ± 1.22 | 1.18 ± 1.25 |
| Site of disease | ||
| Proctosigmoiditis | 1 | 4 |
| Left sided colitis | 4 | 4 |
| Extensive colitis | 2 | 1 |
| Pancolitis | 2 | 2 |
| CAI | 8.0 ± 1.0 | 7.9 ± 1.2 |
| EAI | 8.7 ± 3.7 | 8.8 ± 2.2 |
| IBDQ | 106 (230-70) | 147 (224-100) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 8 (23.1-2.5) | 4.6 (13.6-0.5) |
All data expressed as mean ± SD or median (max-min). CAI: clinical activity index; EAI: endoscopic activity index; CRP: C reactive protein.