Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab and 21 controls matched for age, sex, body mass index, and criteria of metabolic syndrome [mean ± SD or number (%)]
| RA (n = 21) | Controls (n = 21) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 57.8 ± 10.5 | 57.8 ± 5.4 |
| Gender, female | 16/21 (76) | 16/21 (76) |
| Body weight, Kg | 61.8 ± 19.3 | 68.4 ± 15.0 |
| BMI, Kg/m2 | 23.6 ± 6.7 | 24.6 ± 5.4 |
| Waist circumference, cm | 85.4 ± 13.6 | 83.6 ± 11.7 |
| Metabolic syndrome | 6/21 (28.5) | 6/21 (28.5) |
| HOMA‐IR [(insulin × glucose) / 22.5] | 2.35 ± 1.3 | 2.36 ± 1.3 |
| Triglycerides, g/L | 0.99 ± 0.45 | 1.16 ± 0.64 |
| Total cholesterol, g/L | 2.05 ± 0.43 | 2.25 ± 0.29 |
| LDL cholesterol, g/L | 1.26 ± 0.32 | 1.42 ± 0.25 |
| HDL cholesterol, g/L | 0.66 ± 0.20 | 0.6 ± 0.18 |
| Total/HDL cholesterol | 3.30 ± 1.02 | 4.07 ± 1.29* |
| Cholesterol‐lowering drug therapy | 11/21 (52.4) | 3/21 (14.3)** |
| Antihypertensive drug | 6/21 (28.5) | 4/21 (19) |
| Antidiabetic drug | 1/21 (5) | 2/21 (9.5) |
| Disease duration; median [IQR] | 8.5 [1.7–21.5] | — |
| Rheumatoid factor positivity | 14/21 (67) | — |
| Anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies | 18/21 (86) | — |
| Radiographic erosions | 13/21 (62) | — |
| DAS28 | 4.94 ± 1.25 | — |
| C reactive protein level, mg/L median [IQR] | 4.5 [2.9–31.1] | |
| EULAR response M6/M12 | ||
| No | 4/2 | — |
| Good–moderate | 10/9 | — |
| Smoking | 10/21 (48) | NR |
| Concomitant DMARD | 19/21 (90) | — |
| Current steroids | 14/21 (67) | 0/21 |
| Mean steroid dosage (prednisone mg/d) | 4.12 ± 3.35 | — |
| At least one previous biologic | 18/21 (86) | — |
BMI, body mass index; DAS28, disease activity score in 28 joints; DMARD, disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; HDL, high‐density lipoprotein; HOMA‐IR, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance; IQR, interquartile; LDL, low‐density lipoprotein; NR, not relevant; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.
*
P < 0.05.
**
P < 0.01.