Table 3

Spearman rank correlations between baseline laboratory test findings in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

Test

TNF-α

IL-1Ra

IL-6

sIL-6R

IGF-1

ESR

Estradiol

Serum TNF-α (pg/ml)

–

0.259*

0.041

0.346**

-0.128

0.135

-0.042

Serum IL-1Ra (pg/ml)

0.259*

–

0.338**

0.434***

-0.021

0.108

0.088

Serum IL-6 (pg/ml)

0.041

0.338**

–

0.261*

-0.245*

0.470***

0.116

Serum sIL-6R (pg/ml)

0.346**

0.434***

0.261*

–

-0.207

0.115

0.145

Serum IGF-1 (ng/ml)

-0.128

-0.021

-0.245*

-0.207

–

-0.177

0.014

ESR (mm)

0.135

0.108

0.470***

0.115

-0.177

–

0.015

Serum estradiol (pmol/l)

-0.042

0.088

0.116

0.145

0.014

0.015

–

*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IGF-1 = insulin-like growth factor 1; IL-1Ra = IL-1-receptor antagonist; sIL-6R = soluble IL-6 receptor; TNF-α = tumor necrosis factor α.

d'Elia et al. Arthritis Res Ther 2003 5:R202   doi:10.1186/ar761