Table 1 Patient characteristics

Female gender, n (%)

10 (50)

25 (65.8)

25 (67.6)

Age in years, mean (SD)

31.8 (9.7)

53.3 (13.98)^a

53.7 (13.40)^a

Disease duration in months, median (range)

-

5.4 (2-12)

73.0 (0-414)^b

Presence of joint erosions, n (%)

-

10 (26.3)

20 (54.1)^c

Anti-CCP positive, n (%)

-

30 (78.9)

24 (85.7)^d

Rheumatoid factor (IgM) positive, n (%)

-

31 (81.6)

27 (73.0)

DAS44 at baseline, mean (SD)

-

3.05 (0.92)

3.57 (0.95)^c

HAQ-DI at baseline, mean (SD)

-

-

1.43 (0.62)

Use of NSAID, n (%)

-

25 (67.6)

19 (51.4)

Use of methotrexate, n (%)

-

-

22 (59.5)

Use of hydroxychloroquine, n (%)

-

-

11 (29.7)

Use of sulfasalazine, n (%)

-

-

5 (13.5)

Number of DMARDs, median (range)

-

-

1 (0-3)^e

Use of anti-TNF-α therapy, n (%)

-

-

5 (13.5)