Table 1. Baseline characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic hepatitis B.
| Variables | MTX users (n = 358) | MTX non-users (n = 273) |
|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 53.3 ± 12.7 | 54.8 ± 13.7# |
| Gender | ||
| Female | 274 (77%) | 206 (75%) |
| Male | 84 (23%) | 67 (25%) |
| Comorbidity | ||
| NAFLD | 2 (1%) | 3 (1%) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 58 (16%) | 37 (14%) |
| Dyslipidemia | 55 (15%) | 46 (17%) |
| Hypertension | 95 (27%) | 79 (29%) |
| Concomitant medications | ||
| Leflunomide | 39 (11%) | 4 (2%)* |
| Azathioprine | 10 (3%) | 12 (4%) |
| Sulfasalazine | 190 (53%) | 91 (33%)* |
| Corticosteroids | 263 (74%) | 107 (39%)* |
| MTX | ||
| Cumulative dose <1.5 grams | 235 (66%) | NA |
| Cumulative dose 1.5–3.0 grams | 67 (19%) | NA |
| Cumulative dose ≧3.0 grams | 56 (16%) | NA |
| Liver cirrhosis | 22 (6%) | 19 (7%) |
| Decompensated liver cirrhosis | 4 (1%) | 2 (1%) |
| Median follow-up period (years) | 6.8 | 6.2## |
MTX: methotrexate; NA: not avalaible; NAFLD: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
*p < 0.0001.
#at diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B.
##since the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B.