Table 1 Patients' clinical and immunological characteristics

Number

32

14

23

-

-

-

Age, mean ± SD (years)

54.2 ± 17.9

47.8 ± 13.1

47.8 ± 16.7

ns

ns

ns

N. females/males, (% F)

24/8 (75.0)

11/3 (78.6)

14/9 (60.9)

ns

ns

ns

Duration, mean ± SD (years)

6.5 ± 7.5

3.6 ± 5.3

3.8 ± 6.2

ns

ns

ns

ESR, mean ± SD (mm 1 ^st h)

62.1 ± 39.2

33.6 ± 26.8

35.9 ± 30.9

0.02

0.01

ns

CRP, mean ± SD (mg/l)

40.7 ± 47.4

15.6 ± 16.9

28.6 ± 49.0

ns

ns

ns

DAS, mean ± SD

3.74 ± 1.17

2.25 ± 0.85

<0.01

-

-

HAQ-DI, mean ± SD

1.40 ± 0.78

0.69 ± 0.91

0.91 ± 0.72

0.01

0.04

ns

ACPA ≥5.0 U/ml (%)

13 (40.6)

1 (7.7)

1 (4.5)

<0.01

<0.01

ns

IgM RF ≥20.0 U/ml (%)

9 (28.1)

2 (15.4)

1 (4.5)

ns

0.05

ns

IgA RF ≥20.0 U/ml (%)

6 (18.8)

1 (7.7)

0

ns

ns

ns

DMARDs therapy, n. (%)

27 (84.4)

8 (57.1)

19 (82.6)

ns

ns

ns

Biologic therapy, n. (%)

10 (31.3)

0

2 (8.7)

0.02

0.05

ns

Steroid therapy, n. (%)

22 (68.8)

6 (42.9)

12 (52.2)

ns

ns

ns