Table 3.

Longitudinal decline in AC and ceramide component scores following treatment

Baseline AC analysis	Patient 1	Patient 2	Patient 3	Patient 4	Patient 5	Patient 6	Patient 7a
Baseline ceramide analysis	Patient 1	Patient 2	Patient 3	Patient 4	Patient 5	Patient 6	Patient 7a
Months to longitudinal sampling	8.0	5.5	3.0	4.5	4.0	4.0	8.0
Baseline sample score	0.117	0.410	1.743	2.236	0.894	−−0.322	−0.370
Follow-up sample score	−0.937	−1.264	−1.315	−0.890	−0.500	0.058	−0.457
Months to longitudinal sampling	8.0	5.5	2.0	4.5	4.0	4.0	8.0
Baseline	−0.652	−0.505	1.542	1.140	−0.592	−0.152	1.721
Follow-up	−0.706	−1.746	0.266	−0.487	−1.256	−0.332	−0.298

In baseline analysis of the AC data (Table 2), 12 AC concentrations were significantly greater in the TN group. In longitudinal analyses, a single PCA-derived factor explaining 51% of the variation in these ACs decreased by 1.43 .s.d. (P = 0.03) during treatment. Mean decline of −1.43 s.d. (P = 0.03).

Baseline ceramide analysis revealed three of four concentrations higher in the TN group at baseline (C24:1, d18-1-C18 and d18-1-C24-1). These loaded on a single PCA-derived factor. In longitudinal analyses, this factor, which explained 78% of the variance, decreased by 0.98 s.d. (P < 0.01) during treatment. Mean decline of −0.97 s.d. (P < 0.01).

^aFlare patient.