Table 2. Treatment with MTX and LEF improves the clinical profiles of RA patients.
| Parameters | Response group (n = 40) |
None-response group (n = 20) |
HC (n = 20) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before treatment | After treatment | Before treatment | After treatment | ||
| Age (years) | 51 (36–79) | 51 (36–79) | 49 (35–78) | 49 (35–78) | 50 (30–75) |
| Sex ratio: female/male | 27/13 | 27/13 | 14/6 | 14/6 | 12/8 |
| RF (IU/mL) | 350 (0.11–2922)# | 72 (6–760)*,△,# | 225 (16–2850)# | 202 (13–1998)# | 11 (0.30–16.80) |
| CCP (U/mL) | 390 (0.65–2900)# | 82 (0.50–890)*,△,# | 385 (53.5–3250)# | 336 (48–2500)# | 18 (1.23–28.57) |
| ESR (mm/h) | 38 (4–112)# | 3 (0–5)*,△ | 40 (4–126)# | 12 (4–68)# | 2 (0–5) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 27.22 (1.02–226)# | 12.50 (0.87–79)*,△ | 17.23 (0.61–177)# | 15.66 (2.06–29)# | 6.9 (0–15) |
| DAS28 | 5.72 (3.29–8.26) | 2.60 (1.82–3.05)*,△ | 6.92 (4.10–9.33) | 6.23 (3.65–8.98) | ND |
| WBC (109/L) | 6.80 (4.13–9.75) | 6.26 (4.36–8.89) | 6.52 (4.11–9.74) | 7.23 (4.07–9.89) | 6.76 (4.01–9.89) |
Note: Data are presented as median (range) or number of cases. MTX, methotrexate; LEF, leflunomide; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; HC, healthy control; ND, non-detectable; RF, rheumatoid factor; CCP, cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; DAS28, disease activity score of 28 joints; WBC, White blood cell counts; ESR, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein. Normal values: WBC: 3.50–9.50 × 109/L, ESR: 0–15 mm/h, CRP: 0–3 mg/L, RF: 0–15 IU/mL; CCP: 0–25 U/mL. *P < 0.05 versus before treatment in the same patient group. #P < 0.05 versus HC. △P < 0.05 versus non-response group at the same time point.