Decreased levels of the gelsolin plasma isoform in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical characteristic	Erosive RA (n = 47)	Non-erosive RA (n = 31)	P value^a
Gender, female/male	35/12	24/7	NS
Age, years	61.2 ± 14.1	54.2 ± 7.4	NS
Rheumatoid factor, +/-	35/12	12/19	0.008
Disease duration, years	12.1 ± 9.2	7.7 ± 7.4	0.005
Treated with DMARDs	32	13	<0.03
Methotrexate	24 (51%)	9 (29%)
Other^b	8 (17%)	4 (13%)
Non-treated	15 (32%)	18 (58%)	<0.05
CRP, mg/L	42 ± 56.6	38 ± 39.6	NS
Systemic inflammation, CRP >20 mg/L	28 (60%)	18 (58%)
White blood cell count, × 10⁹/L
Blood	8.2 ± 2.8	7.34 ± 1.1	NS
Synovial fluid	10.6 ± 17.7	13.0 ± 14.1	NS

Values are mean ± standard deviation except where otherwise indicated. ^aErosive versus non-erosive. ^bSulfasalazine 5, gold salts 4, leflunomide 1, cyclosporine A 5 (in combination with methotrexate 2, with azathioprine 1, with leflunomide 1, and with sulfasalazine 1), and azathioprine 2. CRP, C-reactive protein; DMARD, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug; NS, not significant; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.

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