Table 2.

DAS28-ESR values at baseline and weeks 24, 48, and 102, by treatment group^*

	Visit Week
Assessment Mean ± SD (N)	Baseline	Week 24	Week 48	Week 102
IM (n = 315)	5.8±1.1	3.6±1.3‡	3.2±1.3	2.9±1.2
SU (n = 234)	5.9±1.1	4.9±1.3	3.5±1.3	3.1±1.3
MTX (n = 81)	5.4±1.0†	2.5±1.3§	2.8±1.3¶	2.7±1.2

^*Data at week 48 are from 288 patients in the immediate combination therapy group, 209 in the step-up therapy group, and 75 in the methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy group; data at week 102 are from 231, 176, and 61 patients in the respective groups. Values are the mean ± SD. P values were determined as follows: baseline data were compared by one-way analysis of variance; weeks 24, 48, and 102 data were compared by repeated-measures mixed-model analysis, adjusting for screening Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), with Tukey's honestly significant difference used to adjust for multiple comparisons.

^†P = 0.0063 versus step-up therapy.

^‡P = 0.0001 versus step-up therapy and versus MTX monotherapy.

^§P = 0.0001 versus step-up therapy.

^¶P = 0.0052 versus step-up therapy.