| Relapse (n = 19) | Nonrelapse (n = 21) | p Value |
---|---|---|---|
Clinical characteristics at initiation of bDMARD | |||
 Positivity of RF, n | 16 (84.2) | 18 (85.7) | 0.89 |
 Positivity of ACPA, n | 18 (94.7) | 19 (90.5) | 0.61 |
 DAS28-ESR | 4.76 (3.99–5.15) | 4.02 (3.60–5.09) | 0.26 |
 SDAI | 19.6 (15.2–26.1) | 14.7 (11.1–24.6) | 0.19 |
 CDAI | 18 (13.5–24.5) | 14.4 (11.0–20.8) | 0.28 |
Clinical characteristics at discontinuation of bDMARD | |||
 Age, years | 55 (46–61) | 53 (41–61) | 0.95 |
 Female sex | 14 (73.7) | 19 (86.4) | 0.16 |
 Duration of disease, years | 5.0 (1.4–8.0) | 3.0 (2.0–4.0) | 0.54 |
 Positivity of RF, n | 11 (64.7) | 12 (57.1) | 0.74 |
 bDMARD use, n | IFX, 8; ADA, 5; CZP, 1; ETN, 2; TCZ, 2; ABT, 1 | IFX, 6; ADA, 2; GLM, 4; CZP, 1; ETN, 1; TCZ, 5; ABT, 2 |  |
 TNF inhibitor use, n | 16 (84.2) | 14 (66.7) | 0.20 |
 Concomitant MTX, n | 17 (89.5) | 16 (76.2) | 0.27 |
 Duration of bDMARD therapy, months | 12 (10–23) | 12 (10–21) | 0.75 |
 Duration until clinical remission, months | 3 (1–5) | 3 (2–4) | 0.95 |
 Duration of clinical remission, months | 8 (7–16) | 9 (6–12) | 0.80 |
 Tender joint counts, n/28 joints | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.33 |
 Swollen joint counts, n/28 joints | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.61 |
 PtGA, mm | 3 (2–7) | 4 (2–8) | 0.62 |
 EGA, mm | 3 (2–4) | 4 (2–5) | 0.39 |
 CRP, mg/dl | 0.05 (0.03–0.05) | 0.05 (0.05–0.09) | 0.41 |
 ESR, mm/h | 11 (8–15) | 7 (5–14) | 0.44 |
 MMP-3, ng/ml | 35 (26–58) | 33 (28–49) | 0.77 |
 DAS28-ESR | 1.73 (1.29–2.01) | 1.57 (1.20–2.02) | 0.76 |
 SDAI | 0.9 (0.5–1.2) | 0.8 (0.5–3.0) | 0.58 |
 CDAI | 0.8 (0.5–1.1) | 0.7 (0.4–2.7) | 0.62 |
 HAQ-DI | 0 (0–0.1) | 0 (0) | 0.67 |
Ultrasound findings | |||
 Positivity of GS, n | 10 (52.6) | 14 (66.7) | 0.37 |
 Total GS score | 2 (0–4) | 2 (0–4) | 0.65 |
 Positivity of PD, n | 5 (26.3) | 3 (14.3) | 0.34 |
 Total PD score | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.45 |
 Positivity of bone erosion, n | 10 (52.6) | 3 (14.3) | 0.01 |