Table 1 Clinical characteristics and lipid profile of early rheumatoid arthritis patients and controls

Sex (males/females)

20/43

14/44

13/43

Age (years)

58.4 ± 17.7

53.6 ± 15.3

54.7 ± 14.8

Body mass index (kg/m²)

25.8 ± 6.5

25.5 ± 3.3

25.8 ± 3.1

IgM rheumatoid factor (+/-)

0/0

45/13

44/13

C-reactive protein (mg/dl)

3 (1–5)

22 (7–104)

3 (1–5)^‡

Disease activity score for 28 joint indices

-

5.8 ± 0.9

2.7 ± 1.0^‡

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h)

5.2 ± 3.1

48.0 ± 19.7

14.6 ± 8.7^‡

Total cholesterol (mg/dl)

190.4 ± 33.9

216.5 ± 50.3*

228.1 ± 42.1**

Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (mg/dl)

126.5 ± 31.3

141.6 ± 42.3*

140.4 ± 32.4

High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (mg/dl)

51.1 ± 7.4

47.5 ± 11.8^†

60.7 ± 13.4^‡

Triglycerides (mg/dl)

97.1 ± 28.3

133.0 ± 58.2*

131.5 ± 56.1

Apolipoprotein B-100 (mg/dl)

93 ± 19

103 ± 28*

105 ± 30

Apolipoprotein A-I (mg/dl)

144 ± 23

127 ± 27^†

152 ± 22^‡

Lipoprotein (a) (mg/dl)

10.6 (0.8–28.0)

11.2 (2.5–39.7)

8.6 (2.5–38.1)

Plasma lipoprotein phospholipase A₂ activity (nmol/ml/min)

58.6 ± 14.0

47.1 ± 19.3^†

45.7 ± 14.6

High-density lipoprotein-associated lipoprotein phospholipase A₂ activity (nmol/ml/min)

3.4 ± 1.3

2.7 ± 1.0*

3.6 ± 1.3^‡