Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients with early inflammatory arthritis of non-crystal origin

RA

Non-RA persistent

Resolving

P

Number

8

14

14

Female (n)

4

6

6

NS^a

Age (years)^b,c

65.5 (55–73)

29.5 (23.5–61)

28.5 (21–45)

0.006^d

RA versus non-RA persistent <0.05^e

RA versus resolving <0.01^e

Symptom duration (weeks)^b,c

9 (6–9.5)

7.5 (2.5–11.5)

4 (2–8)

NS^d

CRP (mg/l)^b,c

31 (27.5–52.5)

67 (29–172.5)

24 (3.5–45)

NS^d

RF ≥30 IU/ml (n)

7

0

2

<0.0001^a

Anti-CCP antibodies ≥5 IU/ml (n)

7

0

1

<0.0001^a

RF ≥30 IU/ml + Anti-CCP antibodies ≥5 IU/ml (n)

7

0

0

<0.0001^a

Initial NSAID use (n)

7

6

8

NS^a

Initial DMARD use (n)

0

0

0

NS^a

Initial prednisolone use (n)

0

3

0

NS^a

Joint aspirated (knee/ankle [n])

5/3

13/1

11/3

NS^a

^aχ² test. ^bMedian. ^cInterquartile range. ^dKruskall–Wallis test. ^eWhere the medians were significantly different at the 5% level, Dunn's post-test was used to compare individual groups. CCP, cyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; NS, not significant; NSAID, nonsteroidal antirheumatic drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.

Raza et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2005 7:R784   doi:10.1186/ar1733