Table 2

Markers of inflammation, Ig and immune response according to smoking status in total study population

Current smokers (N = 88)

Non-smokers (never-smoked) (N = 212)

Ex-smoker

(N = 202)

Smoking pack-years (mean; SD)

24.5 (13)*

---

16.6 (13)*

CRP g/L (mean) (SD)

10.1 (25)**

5.9 (10)**

5.8 (11)**

ESR mm/hour (mean) (SD)

25.6 (22)***

19.8 (17)***

21.4 (19)

IgG g/L (mean) (SD)

9.9 (3) #

10.6 (2)

10.4 (3)

IgA g/L (mean) (SD)

2.6 (1)

2.7 (1)

2.7 (1)

IgM g/L (mean) (SD)

1.2 (0.6)

1.3 (0.9)

1.3 (0.7)

GMC¤ immune response 23F

2.6 ##

3.7

3.3

GMC¤ immune response 6B

1.8 ###

2.4

2.2

GMC¤ = geometric mean concentration of immune response

*P <0.001 compared to ex-smokers (independent sample T-test)

** P = 0.04 compared to non smokers (never-smoked); p = 0.045 compared to ex-smokers (independent sample T-test)

*** P = 0.023 compared to non-smokers (never-smoked); independent sample T-test

#P = 0.028 compared to non-smokers (never-smoked); independent sample T-test

## P = 0.028 compared to non-smokers (never-smoked); Mann-Whitney U test

### P = 0.0042 compared to non-smokers (never-smoked); Mann-Whitney U test

Roseman et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R170   doi:10.1186/ar3923