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Comparison of clinical characteristics at baseline |
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| Characteristic |
Responder |
Nonresponder |
P value |
|
|
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| Age (years) |
48.33 (± 12.29) |
58.14 (± 13.67) |
0.125a |
| Gender (male) |
2/12 |
2/7 |
0.603b |
| Rheumatoid arthritis duration (years) |
13.5 (± 10.46) |
18.86 (± 13.93) |
0.353a |
| Steroids (mg/d) |
6.71 (± 5.16) |
10.43 (± 6.80) |
0.195a |
| 28-joint-count Disease Activity Score baseline |
5.75 (± 0.94) |
5.33 (± 0.97) |
0.364a |
| Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide-negative |
5/12 |
1/7 |
0.333b |
| Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs |
|||
| None |
3/12 |
4/7 |
0.326b |
| Leflunomide |
2/12 |
2/7 |
0.603b |
| Methotrexate |
5/12 |
1/7 |
0.333b |
| Cyclosporin A |
1/12 |
0/7 |
1.000b |
| Sulfasalazine/hydroxychloroquin |
1/12 |
0/7 |
1.000b |
|
Both patient groups show similar characteristics before therapy onset (mean ± standard deviation and number of patients, respectively). Statistical tests (atwo-sample t test, bexact Fisher test) were applied to check whether any of the parameters are associated with clinical outcome. | |||
Koczan et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008 10:R50 doi:10.1186/ar2419 |
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