Table 3.

Analysis of kinetic of composite indexes and ultrasonographic data during the spacing phase as potential predictable factors of relapse after biologic agent withdrawal

Population	All	Relapser	Non-relapser	P value
Composite indexes
Delta DAS 28 ESR > 0, %	77	82.4	66.7	0.18
Delta DAS 28 ESR, mean (SD)	0.4 (0.56)	0.56 (0.57)	0.19 (0.49)	0.07
Delta DAS 28 CRP > 0, %	48	52.9	37.5	0.149
Delta DAS 28 CRP, mean (SD)	0.1 (0.62)	0.22 (0.66)	−0.07 (0.5)	0.582
Delta SDAI > 0, %	60	70.6	37.5	0.03
Delta SDAI, mean (SD)	0.8 (2.87)	1.39 (3.17)	−0.34 (1.69)	0.03
Ultrasonographic data
Delta GS score > 0, %	17.4	12.5	28.6	0.55
Delta GS score, mean (SD)	0 (0.98)	−0.19 (0.98)	0.29 (0.95)	0.39
Delta PD score > 0, %	30.4	31.3	28.6	1
Delta PD score, mean (SD)	0.1 (1.01)	0.06 (1.06)	0.29 (0.95)	0.68
Delta global score > 0, %	21.7	18.8	28.6	0.62
Delta global score, mean (SD)	−0.4 (5.01)	−1.06 (5.8)	1.14 (1.95)	0.16

CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS, Disease Activity Score; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GS, grey scale; PD, power Doppler; SD, standard deviation; SDAI, Simplified Disease Activity Index.