Table 1.
The characteristic of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) group, medications and healthy control (HC) group. Anti-PAD4, antibodies against Peptydyl Arginine Deiminase type 4; ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; VAS PGA, Visual Analogue Scale Patient Global Assessment; VAS PhGA, Visual Analogue Scale Physician Global Assessment.
| Characteristics | RA | HC |
|---|---|---|
| N = 125 | N = 30 | |
| Age; mean (SD) | 52.2 (12.3) | 53.2 (8.1) |
| Females; n (%) | 103 (82.4) | 23 (76.7) |
| Disease duration [years]; n (SD) | 11.69 (9.3) | n/a |
| Rheumatoid Factor positive; n (%), | 87 (69.6) | none |
| anti-PAD4 positive; n (%) | 67 (53.6) | 2 (6.7) |
| ACPA positive; n (%) | 104 (83.2) | none |
| ESR; mean (SD) | 31.5 (24.4) | 14.6 (9.2) |
| CRP [mg/dL]; mean (SD) | 13.96 (25.28) | 1.37 (1.71) |
| VAS PGA; mean (SD) | 27.1 (27.2) | n/a |
| VAS PhGA; mean (SD) | 21.7 (20.6) | n/a |
| Treatment | n/a | |
| At least Methotrexate, n (%) | 90 (72) | |
| At least Biologics, n (%) | 45 (35.2) | |
| At least Steroids, n (%) | 73 (58.4) | |
| Single drug therapy, n (%) | 45 (36) | |
| Metotrexate, n (%) | 23 (18.4) | |
| Biologics, n (%) | 5 (4) | |
| Steroids, n (%) | 17 (13.6) | |
| Double drug therapy, n (%) | 50 (40) | |
| At least Methotrexate + Steroids, n (%) | 51 (40.8) | |
| At least Methotrexate + Biologics, n (%) | 36 (28.8) | |
| At least Steroids + Biologics, n (%) | 25 (20) | |
| Methotrexate + Steroids, n (%) | 31 (24.8) | |
| Methotrexate + Biologics, n (%) | 15 (12) | |
| Steroids + Biologics, n (%) | 4 (3.2) | |
| Triple drug therapy, n (%) | 21 (16.8) | |
| No therapy, n (%) | 9 (7.2) |