Table 1.
Clinimetric, laboratory and ultrasound characteristics of study population at baseline and after 12 months follow-up
| Patients (N = 37) | Baseline | 12 months follow-up | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESR (mm/h), mean ± SD | 31 ± 21 | 13.9 ± 11 | 0.0001^ |
| CRP (g/L), mean ± SD | 13.6 ± 16 | 5.81 ± 4.71 | 0.003^ |
| RF positivity, number (%) | 31 (83) | 31 (83) | - |
| APCA positivity, number (%) | 30 (81) | 30 (8) | - |
| Morning stiffness (minutes), mean ± SD | 62 ± 48 | 20.8 ± 23 | 0.0001^ |
| Ritchie index, mean ± SD | 10 ± 8.2 | 2.5 ± 2.9 | 0.00001^ |
| VAS pain (mm), mean ± SD | 63 ± 24 | 31.9 ± 32 | 0.002^ |
| VAS disease patient (mm), mean ± SD | 58 ± 23 | 31 ± 27 | 0.0001^ |
| EGA (mm), mean ± SD | 54 ± 20 | 24.3 ± 20 | 0.0001^ |
| Number of tender joints (0–44), median (range) | 12 (0–35) | 2 (0–19) | 00001^ |
| Number of swollen joints (0–44), median (range) | 5 (0–22) | 3 (0–21) | 0.0001^ |
| Number of tender joints (0–28), median (range) | 8 (0–24) | 4 (0–30) | 0.0001^ |
| Number of swollen joints (0–28), median (range) | 5 (0-20 | 5 (0–32) | 0.0001^ |
| DAS 28 score, mean ± SD | 5.18 ± 1 | 2.77 ± 1.14 | 0.0001^ |
| Ultrasound Total Synovitis score, mean ± SD | 25.7 ± 21.7 | 8.31 ± 6.2 | 0.0008^ |
| Ultrasound Total power Doppler score, mean ± SD | 3.3 ± 5.9 | 0.65 ± 1.22 | 0.005^ |
| Ultrasound Total Erosion score, mean ± SD | 1.34 ± 2.7 | 10.31 ± 9.8 | ns^ |
| Patients ≥1 erosion, number (%) | 12 (32%) | 18 (48%) | ns* |
| X-Ray Erosion, +ve, number (%)/% | 6 (16%) | - |
Results are shown as mean ± SD, median(min-max) or number(percentage) of patients, as appropriated. ^Wilcoxon test applied, *chi-squared test applied. P-value <0.05 are considered significant. ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; RF, Rheumatoid Factor; ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; VAS, visual analogue scale; EGA, examinator’s global disease activity assessment; DAS28, 28-joint disease activity score.