Reliability of computerized image analysis for the evaluation of serial synovial biopsies in randomized controlled trials in rheumatoid arthritis

Table 1 Numbers of positive cells before and after intervention

Cell type	Treatment	Observer 1 t0			Observer 1 t1			Intra-observer comparison	Observer 2			Observer 3			Inter- observer comparison
		Placebo	Prednisolone	P ^a	Placebo	Prednisolone	P ^a	P ^b	Placebo	Prednisolone	P ^a	Placebo	Prednisolone	P ^a	P^c
CD3⁺ T lymphocytes	Before	192 ± 246	358 ± 413	<0.05	110 ± 140	227 ± 225	<0.05	NS	179 ± 185	285 ± 250	<0.05	89 ± 110	112 ± 98	<0.05	NS
	After	387 ± 391	140 ± 150		299 ± 356	44 ± 62			470 ± 618	101 ± 94		196 ± 224	54 ± 66
CD38⁺ plasma cells	Before	56 ± 87	99 ± 130	NS	73 ± 134	116 ± 166	NS	NS	246 ± 307	397 ± 498	NS	145 ± 151	309 ± 380	NS	NS
	After	96 ± 127	37 ± 57		119 ± 149	42 ± 78			335 ± 411	132 ± 187		315 ± 416	83 ± 121
CD68⁺ macrophages	Before	804 ± 422	973 ± 419	<0.03	441 ± 422	572 ± 404	<0.03	NS	937 ± 292	1151 ± 254	<0.03	621 ± 445	724 ± 360	<0.03	NS
	After	972 ± 151	553 ± 342		632 ± 686	222 ± 278			984 ± 354	796 ± 306		720 ± 527	313 ± 291

Shown are the mean numbers (± standard deviation) of CD3⁺ T lymphocytes, CD38⁺ plasma cells and CD68⁺ sublining macrophages per square millimetre of synovial tissue before and after intervention, measured by one observer at two different time points (OB1 t0 and OB1 t1) and by two other observers (OB2 and OB3) for placebo-treated patients and prednisolone-treated patients. ^aNonparametric, unpaired, Mann–Whitney U-test for the comparison between placebo and prednisolone treatment. ^bNonparametric, paired, Wilcoxon signed rank test, for the comparison between OB1 t0 and OB1 t1 (intra-observer comparison). ^cNonparametric, paired, Friedman test, for the comparsion between the three observers (OB1 t0, OB2 and OB3).

ISSN: 1478-6362