Radiographic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with differences in cartilage turnover and can be predicted by serum biomarkers: an evaluation from 1 to 4 years after diagnosis

Table 1 Patient characteristics, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use, and biomarker concentrations 1 year after diagnosis

Age (years)	58 ± 13
Gender, women (%)	63
Rheumatoid factor, positive (%)	68
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h^1st)	25 ± 25
Joint score, Thompson	52 ± 77
Morning stiffness (min)	44 ± 88
Visual analogue scale pain (mm)	24 ± 25
Visual analogue scale general well-being (mm)	31 ± 26
Functional disability score, Health Assessment Questionnaire	0.96 ± 0.70
Radiographic damage, erosions	7.2 ± 8.3
Radiographic damage, narrowing	3.7 ± 4.1
Total radiographic damage score, Sharp/van der Heijde	10.9 ± 11.2
DMARD use [number (%)]
No DMARD	6 (7)
Intramuscular gold	19 (22)
Methotrexate	26 (30)
Hydroxychloroquine	21 (24)
D-penicillamine	7 (8)
Sulfasalazine	4 (5)
Imuran	1 (1)
Auranofin	3 (3)
Biomarker concentrations
C2C (ng/ml)	130 ± 62
C1,2C (ng/ml)	514 ± 287
CS846-epitope (ng/ml)	61 ± 22
CPII (ng/ml)	242 ± 180

Values presented as the mean ± standard deviation for continuous variables and percentages for categorical variables. Rheumatoid factor positive, patients testing positive either at diagnosis or 1 year. C2C, a marker for degradation of type II collagen in cartilage; C1,2C, a marker for degradation of type I and type II collagen in cartilage; CS846-epitope, a marker for aggrecan turnover in cartilage; CPII, a marker for synthesis of the pro-collagen of type II collagen cartilage.

ISSN: 1478-6362