Table 1

Characteristics of patients and treatments

Parameter
Methotrexate
All other DMARDs

Number
86
77
Age (years [mean ± SD])
60.7 ± 12.9
63.6 ± 11.9
Rheumatoid Factor (% positive)
70.9%
64.9%
Sex (% female)
86.0%
79.2%
Disease duration (years [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)
9.5 ± 8.3/13.3 ± 8.6
7.5 ± 8.5/12.6 ± 8.6
Prior DMARDs (median [range]; oMTX/rMTX)
1 (0–6)/4 (2–9)
1 (0–8)/3 (2–10)
Baseline dose (mg/week [median (1st-3rd quartile)]; oMTX/rMTX)
10.0 (7.5–15.0)/15.0 (10.0–20.0)
-/-
Base line CRP (mg/l [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)
33.4 ± 26.2/29.1 ± 31.0
15.2 ± 16.8/18.3 ± 23.0
Base line ESR (mm/hour [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)
47.0 ± 30.0/35.0 ± 22.0
30 ± 13/32 ± 22

CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; oMTX, original methotrexate course; rMTX, re-employed methotrexate course; SD, standard deviation.

Kapral et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006 8:R46   doi:10.1186/ar1902