Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with rituximab

Age (years)

62 (1.8)

Female (%)

61

Disease duration (years)

15 (2.8)

Previous therapies

Number of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs used

2.6 (1 to 5)

Number of biologic agents used

1.6 (0 to 3)

Baseline disease characteristics

Rheumatoid factor-positive (%)

52

Disease activity score of 28 joint counts

6.3 (0.2)

Swollen joints (28 joints)

9.3 (1.1)

Tender joints (28 joints)

12.8 (1.3)

Patient's pain assessment

69.7 (2.9)

Patient's global assessment

67.3 (3.3)

Physician's global assessment

54.8 (3.4)

Health Assessment Questionnaire

0.9 (0.09)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/hour)

51 (6.1)

Hemoglobin (g/dl)

12.9 (0.4)

Concomitant disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs

Methotrexate

Patients (%)

68

Dose (mg/week)

16.3 (7.5 to 25)

Leflunomide

Patients (%)

29

Dose (mg/day)

17 (10 to 20)

Glucocorticoids

Patients (%)

29

Dose (mg/day)

5.5 (5 to 10)

Rituximab monotherapy

3

Data expressed as mean (standard error of the mean), percentage, or mean (range); n = 31.

Nakou et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2009 11:R131   doi:10.1186/ar2798