Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the population included in the study (n = 37).
| Female % (n) | 81% (30) | |
| Age years (mean ± SD) | 51.3 ± 11.7 | |
| Disease duration years (mean ± SD) | 6.3 ± 5.8 | |
| Smoking status | Previous % (n) | 38.9% (14) |
| Current % (n) | 22.2% (8) | |
| RF+ % (n) | 64.9% (24) | |
| Anti-CCP+ % (n) | 64.9% (24) | |
| RF+ or Anti-CCP+ % (n) | 70.3% (26) | |
| ESR mm/h (mean ± SD) | 31.1 ± 25.8 | |
| CRP mg/l mean (mean ± SD) | 10.7 ± 20.2 | |
| TJ/28 (mean ± SD) | 18 ± 8 | |
| SJ/28 (mean ± SD) | 10 ± 4 | |
| VAS GH patient (mean ± SD) | 82.1 ± 13.9 | |
| VAS GH physician (mean ± SD) | 73.7 ± 15.2 | |
| VAS pain (mean ± SD) | 67.8 ± 24.9 | |
| VAS tiredness (mean ± SD) | 55.1 ± 25.2 | |
| HAQ (mean ± SD) | 1.7 ± 0.7 | |
| DAS28 (mean ± SD) | 6.4 ± 0.9 | |
| DMARDs | MTX % (n) | 24.3% (9) |
| LFN % (n) | 5.4% (2) | |
| MTX+HCQ % (n) | 43.3% (16) | |
| MTX+SSZ % (n) | 24.3% (9) | |
| MTX+SSZ+HCQ % (n) | 2.7% (1) | |
| Steroid treatment % (n) | 35.1% (13) | |
| Biopsied joint | MCP % (n) | 21.6% (8) |
| Elbow % (n) | 2.7% (1) | |
| Knee % (n) | 2.7% (1) | |
| Wrist % (n) | 73% (27) | |
| US BJ | Synovial Thickening (mean ± SD) | 2.4 ± 0.6 |
| Power Doppler (mean ± SD) | 1.6 ± 1 | |
SD, Standard Deviation; n, number; RF, Rheumatoid Factor; CCP, Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-Reactive Protein; TJ, Tender Joints; SJ, Swollen Joints; VAS, Visual Analog Scale (0-100); GH, Global Health; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; DAS, Disease Activity Score; DMARDs, Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs; MTX, methotrexate; LFN, leflunomide; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; SSZ, sulfasalazine; MCP, metacarpophalangeal; US BJ, Ultrasound Biopsied Joint.