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Table 1 Characteristics of patients and treatments

From: Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis is frequently effective, even if re-employed after a previous failure

Parameter

Methotrexate

All other DMARDs

Number

86

77

Age (years [mean ± SD])

60.7 ± 12.9

63.6 ± 11.9

Rheumatoid Factor (% positive)

70.9%

64.9%

Sex (% female)

86.0%

79.2%

Disease duration (years [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)

9.5 ± 8.3/13.3 ± 8.6

7.5 ± 8.5/12.6 ± 8.6

Prior DMARDs (median [range]; oMTX/rMTX)

1 (0–6)/4 (2–9)

1 (0–8)/3 (2–10)

Baseline dose (mg/week [median (1st-3rd quartile)]; oMTX/rMTX)

10.0 (7.5–15.0)/15.0 (10.0–20.0)

-/-

Base line CRP (mg/l [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)

33.4 ± 26.2/29.1 ± 31.0

15.2 ± 16.8/18.3 ± 23.0

Base line ESR (mm/hour [mean ± SD]; oMTX/rMTX)

47.0 ± 30.0/35.0 ± 22.0

30 ± 13/32 ± 22

  1. CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; oMTX, original methotrexate course; rMTX, re-employed methotrexate course; SD, standard deviation.