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Table 2 Treatment characteristics and disease activity measures at baseline and at the infusion reaction in patients with RA and SpAs

From: Predictors of infusion reactions during infliximab treatment in patients with arthritis

Number

At treatment initiation

At infusion reaction

 

RA (n = 213)

SpA (n = 76)

RA (n = 45)

SpA (n = 10)

Drug treatments

   Infliximab monotherapy

46 (21.6%)

31 (40.8%)

22 (48.9%)

7 (70%)

   Methotrexate

129 (60.6%)

35 (46.1%)

17 (37.8%)

2 (20%)

   Sulphasalazine

33 (15.5%)

6 (7.9%)

5 (11.1%)

0

   Azathioprine

10 (4.7%)

3 (3.9%)

1 (2.2%)

0

   Other DMARDs

30 (14.1%)

4 (5.3%)

4 (8.9%)

1 (10%)

   Prednisolone

155 (72.8%)

30 (39.5%)

38 (84.4)

6 (60%)

Dosages

   Methotrexate (mg/week)

17.3 ± 5.2

15.6 ± 6.8

15.4 ± 6.1

16.2 ± 12.4

   Sulphasalazine (g/week)

13.5 ± 2.3

15.2 ± 2.9

15.4 ± 3.1

None

   Azathioprine (mg/week)

745.5 ± 432.1

758.3 ± 101.0

700

None

   Prednisolone (mg/week)

43.2 ± 37.8

20.5 ± 28.9

33.4 ± 29.0

11.7 ± 18.0

Disease activity measures

   DAS-28

5.4 ± 1.3

-

5.0 ± 1.6

-

   HAQ

1.4 ± 0.6

1.1 ± 0.6

1.3 ± 0.6

1.1 ± 0.8

   CRP

30.9 ± 33.4

21.7 ± 26.2

25.5 ± 26.3

14.4 ± 16.9

   ESR

36.8 ± 27.2

27.4 ± 23.0

37.8 ± 25.5

29.2 ± 32.1

   VASpain (0–100)

61.7 ± 22.2

61.4 ± 19.7

48.3 ± 25.7

55.9 ± 32.3

   VASglobal (0–100)

63.4 ± 21.6

63.4 ± 19.7

52.5 ± 25.4

56.3 ± 33.6

   Evaglobal (0–5)

2.3 ± 0.6

1.8 ± 0.7

1.9 ± 0.9

1.8 ± 0.6

   TJC (0–28)

8.7 ± 7.3

5.9 ± 6.9

7.9 ± 7.8

6.6 ± 8.3

   SJC (0–28)

8.9 ± 6.0

3.0 ± 4.1

6.9 ± 6.0

3.3 ± 5.4

  1. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or as number (%). CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS-28, Disease Activity Score (using 28 tender and 28 swollen joint count); DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; Evaglobal, physicians global assessment; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; SJC, swollen joint count; SpA, spondylarthropathy; TJC, tender joint count; VASpain, patient's assessment of pain; VASglobal, patient's global assessment.