Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients included in this study

Parameter

Responders

Non-responders

P value

(n = 42)

(n = 10)

Age in years, mean ± SE

62.7 ± 1.9

60.8 ± 3.1

NS^a

Female gender, percentage

81.0

60.0

NS^b

Disease duration in years, mean ± SE

11.7 ± 1.3

16.2 ± 3.9

NS^a

ESR^c, mean ± SE

39.2 ± 3.8

43.3 ± 11.8

NS^a

DAS28-ESR, mean ± SE

5.9 ± 0.2

4.9 ± 0.3

0.016^a

Lymphocytes^d, mean ± SE

2,138 ± 174

3,083 ± 23

0.0279^a

RF-positive, percentage

90.8

100.0

NS^b

ACPA-positive, percentage

76.9

80.0

NS^b

Double-seropositive, percentage

71.8

80.0

NS^b

Double-seronegative, percentage

7.7

0.0

NS^b

Concomitant MTX usage, percentage

40.4

41.7

NS^b

Previous sDMARD, mean ± SE

2.6 ± 0.1

2.0 ± 0.3

NS^a

Previous TNF inhibitors, mean ± SE

1.1 ± 0.1

1.4 ± 0.4

NS^a

No previous biologics, percentage

24.3

11.1

NS^b

One previous biologic, percentage

43.2

55.6

NS^b

Two previous biologics, percentage

27.1

11.1

NS^b

Three previous biologics, percentage

5.4

22.2

NS^b

Systemic steroids, percentage

40.0

31.0

NS^b

^aP values were calculated by using Mann-Whitney test; ^bP values were calculated by using the chi-squared test; ^cmm per 1 hour; ^dG per liter (normal range is 1.0 to 4.8). ACPA, anti-citrullinated peptide antibody; DAS28, disease activity score using 28 joint counts; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MTX, methotrexate; NS, not significant; RF, rheumatoid factor; sDMARD, synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug; SE, standard error; TNF, tumor necrosis factor.

Brezinschek et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R161   doi:10.1186/ar3901