Table 4

Sa is associated with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA)


Sa+ RA
Sa- RA
RF+ RA
RF- RA
SE+ RA
SE- RA

(n=23)
(n=83)
(n=70)
(n=36)
(n=62)
(n=44)

Male (%)
14 (61)*
23 (28)
27 (39)
10 (28)
24(39)
13 (30)







Age
48 ± 15
46 ± 13
47 ± 12
44 ± 15
49 ± 13*
42 ± 13
Duration of symptoms (weeks)
36 ± 25
30 ± 18
33 ± 17
29 ± 24
32 ± 15
31 ± 25
Initial visit






     Swollen joints
18 ± 12*
13 ± 9
13 ± 9
16 ± 10
13 ± 9
14 ± 11
     Nodules
1(4)
5 (6)
5 (7)
1 (3)
5(8)
1 (2)
     CRP (mg/dl)
2.6 ± 3*
1.6 ± 1.4
1.9 ± 1.8
1.9 ± 2.1
1.7 ± 1.5
2.1 ± 2.4
     On DMARDs (%)
11 (48)
31 (37)
28 (40)
14 (39)
24 (39)
18 (41)
     On prednisone (%)
12 (52)
29 (35)
25 (36)
16 (44)
26 (42)
15 (34)
     Multiple erosions (%)
7 (30)
12 (14)
12 (17)
7 (19)
12 (19)
7 (16)
One year visit






     Swollen joints
8 ± 9
8 ± 10
9 ± 11
7 ± 7
10 ± 11*
5 ± 6
     CRP (mg/dl)
1.1 ± 0.7
1.2 ± 1.8
1.3 ± 1.9
0.9 ± 0.5
1.4 ± 2.1
0.9 ± 0.3
     Number of DMARDs
1.4 ± 0.8*
0.9 ± 0.7
0.9 ± 0.7
1.0 ± 0.8
0.9 ± 0.7
1.1 ± 0.8
     Prednisone (mg/day)
4.8 ± 6.0*
1.8 ± 3.3
2.7 ± 4.8
2.0 ± 2.5
2.7 ± 4.0
2.1 ± 3.9
     Multiple erosions (%)
12 (60)*
27 (33)
24 (34)
14 (39)
25 (42)
13 (30)
     Inactive disease (%)
0
9 (12)
3 (4)
6 (17)
4 (7)
5 (11)

Independent comparisons are made between Sa+ and Sa- RA, RF+ and RF- RA, SE+ and SE- RA. *P<0.05.One hundred and two out of 106 (96%) of the patients had 1 year radiographs available for analysis. Multiple erosions included all patients with two or more erosions that involved at least two separate joint areas. RF, Rheumatoid factor; SE, shared epitope; CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease modifying antirheumatic drug.

Goldbach-Mansky et al. Arthritis Res 2000 2:236   doi:10.1186/ar93