Table 1

Characteristics of patients

Diagnosis

Patient

Gender

Age, years

Disease duration, years

Disease activity

Medications

RA

1

Male

75

10

DAS28 = 3.9

CRP = 19 mg/L

Methotrexate 15 mg

Prednisone 5

2

Female

86

5

DAS28 = 4.7

CRP = 12 mg/L

Methotrexate 10 mg

Prednisone 7 mg

3

Female

79

20

DAS28 = 6

CRP = 78 mg/L

Methotrexate 15 mg

Prednisone 10 mg

4

Female

46

15

DAS28 = 4.1

CRP = 17 mg/L

Methotrexate 10 mg

Prednisone 2 mg

5

Female

55

6

DAS28 = 3.7

CRP = 30 mg/L

Methotrexate 17.5 mg

Prednisone 5 mg

6

Male

75

2

DAS28 = 4.2

CRP = 67 mg/L

Methotrexate 10 mg

Prednisone 7 mg

7

Male

46

15

DAS28 = 3.6

CRP = 150 mg/L

Methotrexate 10 mg

Prednisone 5 mg

Infliximab (3 mg/kg)

OA

1

Male

54

8

CRP = 4 mg/L

Paracetamol, NSAID

2

Female

56

3

CRP = 6 mg/L

Paracetamol

3

Female

46

5

CRP = 4 mg/L

Paracetamol, NSAID

4

Female

65

7

CRP = 6 mg/L

Paracetamol

5

Male

55

5

CRP = 4 mg/L

Paracetamol, Tramadol

MC

1

Female

55

3

CRP = 80 mg/L

Paracetamol, NSAID

2

Male

50

1

CRP = 34 mg/L

Colchicine

3

Male

74

1

CRP = 90 mg/L

NSAID

AR

1

Male

75

1

CRP = 54 mg/L

NSAID

2

Male

30

2

CRP = 82 mg/L

NSAID

3

Male

45

1

CRP = 20 mg/L

NSAID

4

Female

20

1

CRP = 34 mg/L

Paracetamol

5

Male

52

1

CRP = 25 mg/L

Paracetamol

Patients were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis based on American College of Rheumatology 1987 diagnostic criteria at least 3 months before study entry and have active disease. The diagnosis of microcristalline arthritis was based on clinical and laboratory features. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology criteria for acute gouty or pseudogout. All patients gave informed consent. AR, reactive arthritis; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, disease activity score using 28 joint counts; MC, microcristalline arthritis; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; OA, osteoarthritis; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.

Messer et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009 11:R40   doi:10.1186/ar2648