Table 3.
Detailed comparison according to the stable dose of methylprednisolone.
| Minimal stable steroid dose: (n=47) | 5.57mg±8.436 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <8mg | ≥8mg | p | |||
| Number of patients: | 32 | 15 | - | ||
| Male/Female: | 6/26 | 1/14 | 0.404 | ||
| Mean age at disease onset ± SD (youngest-oldest): | 43.91±13.18(18-70) | 41.47±14.29(19-67) | - | ||
|
| |||||
| Clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters: | |||||
|
| |||||
| myositis: | 32 | 100% | 15 | 100% | 1 |
| LDH at diagnosis(U/l)±SD: | 1035.26±707.38 | 775.93±463.93 | 0.224 | ||
| CK at diagnosis(U/l)±SD: | 3447.64±3176.22 | 2531.86±2982.12 | 0.374 | ||
| ILD/alveolitis: | 24 | 75% | 11 | 73% | 1 |
| arthritis: | 29 | 91% | 12 | 80% | 0.367 |
| CRP at diagnosis(mg/l)±SD: | 17.84±18.32 | 36.34±25.39 | 0.014 | ||
| ESR at diagnosis(mm/h)±SD: | 19.81±10.4 | 33.87±22.11 | 0.032 | ||
| Raynaud-phenomenon: | 21 | 66% | 10 | 67% | 0.944 |
| dysphagia: | 2 | 6% | 4 | 27% | 0.072 |
| fever: | 11 | 34% | 10 | 67% | 0.038 |
| Skin lesion: | 15 | 47% | 11 | 73% | 0.089 |
SD: standard deviation; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; CK: creatine kinase; ILD: interstitial lung disease; CRP: C-reactive protein; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate.