Table 1 Demographic and clinical data of the rheumatoid arthritis patients and arthritis controls

Age (years)

58 (34–69)

56 (49–68)

Sex (no. of males/females)

4/4

3/0

Disease duration (months)

60 (4–360)

2 (1–12)

Rheumatoid factor

7 positive; 1 negative

1 positive; 2 negative

Tender joint count

9 (5–15)

1 (1–2)

Swollen joint count

11 (5–19)

2 (1–23)

ESR (mm/h)

46 (25–69)

38 (28–43)

Erosive disease

6 positive; 2 negative

None

No. of DMARDs

4.5 (1–5)

0

Leukocytes in SF (10⁹/l)

6.3 (4.5–7.0)

4.3 (4.2–4.5)

CRP (mg/l)

34 (8–97)

4 (<3–26)