Table 1.
Baseline characteristics, laboratory, and ultrasound values of 80 patients with RA*.
| Characteristics | Total (n=80) | Group 1 (n=37) | Group 2 (n=43) | p§ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female Sex, n (%) | 63 (78.8) | 30 (81.1) | 33 (76.7) | 0.64 |
| Age, years | 57.2 ± 9.6 | 55.4 ± 9.4 | 58.8 ± 9.6 | 0.12 |
| Disease duration, years | 12.7 ± 8.3 | 13.2 ± 9.1 | 12.2 ± 7.6 | 0.61 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 29.4 ± 5.7 | 28.4 ± 4.9 | 30.3 ± 6.2 | 0.11 |
| Smoking status, n (%) | ||||
| Current smoker | 17 (21.3) | 10 (27) | 7 (16.3) | 0.50 |
| Past smoker | 11 (13.7) | 5 (13.5) | 6 (14) | |
| Never smoked | 52 (65) | 22 (59.5) | 30 (69.7) | |
| csDMARDs, n (%) | 55 (68.7) | 25 (67.6) | 30 (69.8) | 0.83 |
| bDMARDs, n (%) | 46 (57.5) | 21 (56.8) | 25 (58.1) | 0.90 |
| Steroids, n (%) | 46 (57.5) | 24 (64.9) | 22 (51.2) | 0.22 |
| Prednisolone dose, mg/d | 8.03 ± 5.01 | 7.19 ± 3.78 | 8.95 ± 6.04 | 0.24 |
| NSAIDs, n (%) | 59 (73.7) | 24 (64.9) | 35 (81.4) | 0.10 |
| RF positivity, n (%) | 57 (71.3) | 26 (70.3) | 31 (72.1) | 0.86 |
| ACPA positivity, n (%) | 52 (65) | 24 (64.9) | 28 (65.1) | 0.98 |
| TJC | 3.1 ± 2.6 | 1.9 ± 1.0 | 4.2 ± 3.0 | < 0.001 |
| SJC | 1.0 ± 2.1 | 0.2 ± 0.4 | 1.7 ± 2.6 | 0.001 |
| PGH, 0–100 mm | 22.7 ± 15.9 | 13.7 ± 10.1 | 30.5 ± 15.9 | < 0.001 |
| Morning stiffness, minute | 19.9 ± 23.2 | 13.8 ± 20.1 | 25.1 ± 24.7 | 0.028 |
| VAS Pain, 0–100 mm | 39.8 ± 24.7 | 29.5 ± 20.2 | 48.7 ± 25.0 | < 0.001 |
| ESR, mm/hour | 29.1 ± 20 | 14.2 ± 7.2 | 42.0 ± 18.5 | < 0.001 |
| CRP, mg/dl | 16.1 ± 21.7 | 8.2 ± 11.8 | 23.0 ± 25.7 | 0.002 |
| DAS28-ESR score | 3.60 ± 1.01 | 2.7 ± 0.4 | 4.3 ± 0.8 | < 0.001 |
| DAS28-CRP score | 3.15 ± 0.95 | 2.5 ± 0.4 | 3.7 ± 0.9 | < 0.001 |
| CDAI score | 8.1 ± 6.3 | 4.3 ± 2.1 | 11.4 ± 6.9 | < 0.001 |
| SDAI score | 24.2 ± 25.4 | 12.4 ± 11.9 | 34.4 ± 29.4 | < 0.001 |
| HAQ score | 0.40 ± 0.37 | 0.22 ± 0.23 | 0.55 ± 0.39 | < 0.001 |
| GS syn score (0–27) | 2.93 ± 2.15 | 2.38 ± 1.74 | 3.40 ± 2.37 | 0.034 |
| PD syn score (0–27) | 1.98 ± 2.60 | 1.30 ± 1.82 | 2.56 ± 3.01 | 0.029 |
| GS ten score (0–7) | 0.95 ± 1.14 | 0.76 ± 1.09 | 1.12 ± 1.16 | 0.16 |
| PD ten score (0–7) | 0.78 ± 1.10 | 0.49 ± 0.84 | 1.02 ± 1.24 | 0.029 |
| US7 total score | 6.63 ± 6.18 | 4.92 ± 4.82 | 8.09 ± 6.87 | 0.021 |
| Erosion score (0–14) | 3.58 ± 2.43 | 3.27 ± 2.35 | 3.84 ± 2.50 | 0.30 |
| Calprotectin, ng/ml | 96.3 ± 45.9 | 74.8 ± 45.5 | 114.7 ± 37.9 | < 0.001 |
Group 1: DAS28-ESR < 3.2, Group 2: DAS28-ESR ≥ 3.2
All p values are between group 1 and group 2
ACPA: anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; BMI: body mass index; bDMARDs: biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; CDAI: clinical disease activity index; CRP C-reactive protein; csDMARDs: conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; DAS28: disease activity score in 28 joints; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; GS syn: gray scale synovitis; GS ten: gray scale tenosynovitis; HAQ: health assessment questionnaire; IQR interquartile range; NSAIDs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PD syn: power doppler synovitis; PD ten: power doppler tenosynovitis; PGH: patient global health; RA: rheumatoid arthritis; RF: rheumatoid factor; SDAI: simplified disease activity index; SJC: swollen joint count; syn: synovitis; ten: tenosynovitis; TJC: tender joint count; US7: the 7-joint ultrasound score; VAS: visual analog scale.