Glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms and disease activity during pregnancy and the postpartum period in rheumatoid arthritis

Table 2 Patient characteristics stratified according to use of glucocorticoids

	Use of GCs (n= 57)	No use of GCs (n= 90)
Age at delivery in years, mean (SD)	33.15 (3.80)	31.93 (3.67)
Disease duration in years, median (range)	6.07 (0.22-28.57)	5.18 (0.14-28.54)
Gestational age at delivery in weeks, mean (SD)	38.44 (2.30)	39.85 (1.27)^f
Anti-CCP positive, n (%)	39 (68.4)	51 (56.7)
Rheumatoid factor (IgM) positive, n (%)	47 (82.5)	63 (70.0)
Presence of erosions, n (%)	49 (86)	56 (62.2)^f
Dosage of prednisone (mg/day), median (range)	7.5 (2.5-20)	-
Number of DMARDs before conception, median (range)	2 (0-5)	1 (0-4)^f
Breastfeeding (6 weeks postpartum), n (%)	13 (22.8)	47 (52.2)^f
DAS28 ≥3.2 in first trimester, n (%)^a	33 (70.2)	38 (55.9)
Moderate/good response during pregnancy, n (%)^b	15 (45.5)	17 (43.6)
Very early flare, n (%)^c	9 (17.3)	18 (21.7)
Early flare, n (%)^d	9 (18.0)	20 (24.4)
Late flare, n (%)^e	10 (21.3)	27 (35.5)

^aIn 115 patients, DAS28 in the first trimester was available. ^bAccording to EULAR response criteria, DAS28 ≥3.2 in the first trimester is required, n = 71 of 115. ^cData were available in 135 patients, ^d132 patients, and ^e123 patients, according to reversed EULAR response criteria. ^fP < 0.05 as compared with patients using GCs. Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated protein.
DMARDs, Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, excluding prednisone.

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