Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients with very early inflammatory arthritis

Characteristic
RA
Non-RA
P


Persistent
Resolving


n
17
17
47

Female (n [%])
9 (53%)
6 (35%)
24 (51%)
NSa
Age, years (median [IQR])
64 (58–73)
37 (25–58)
41 (29–64)
RA versus non-RA persistent: P = 0.001b; RA versus resolving: P = 0.0008b
Symptom duration (weeks; median [IQR])
7 (5–9)
7 (2.5–11.5)
3 (1–5)
RA versus resolving P < 0.0001b
CRP (median [IQR])
32 (18–53)
62 (31–95)
32 (10–96)
NSb
RF positive (n [%])
13 (76%)
1 (6%)
5 (10.6%)


aχ2 test. bMann-Whitney test. CRP, C-reactive protein; IQR, interquartile range; NS, not significant; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor.

Raza et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2006 8:R120   doi:10.1186/ar2009