Table 1 Characteristics of 111 RA patients

   Female, age (mean ± SD, range)

91/111 (82%), 51.6 ± 13.3 years (21 ~ 80)

   Disease duration (mean ± SD, range)

6.6 ± 6.4 years (4 months ~ 32 years)

   DAS28 (ESR) (mean ± SD, range)

5.37 ± 1.33 (1.71 ~ 8.41)

   MTX (mean ± SD, range)

(used in all the patients), 8.1 ± 1.6 mg/week (4 ~ 14 mg)

   Corticosteroids users

68/111 patients (61%)

   PSL dosage (mean ± SD, range)

6.2 ± 3.2 mg/day (2 ~ 16 mg)

At the study point

   Total number of IFX (mean ± SD, range)

13.0 ± 7.3 times (3 ~ 38)

   DAS28(ESR) (mean ± SD, range)

3.55 ± 1.64 (0.54 ~ 7.84)

   EULAR response

Good response 55% (including remission 38%)

Moderate response 18%

NOR 27% (including LOR 21%)

   Discontinuation

45/111 (41%)

   Reasons for discontinuation

Remission, eight; NOR, 21; adverse events, 14;

financial reasons, two