Effect of tocilizumab on haematological markers implicates interleukin-6 signalling in the anaemia of rheumatoid arthritis

Table 1 Multivariate analysis of tocilizumab-induced increases in haemoglobin at week 12

Statistical model	Coefficient	SE	P
Basic linear model in the tocilizumab arm ^a
Intercept	2.20	1.93	0.26
Baseline haemoglobin, g/dl	-0.19	0.14	0.20
Change log(CRP) baseline, week 2	-0.048	0.15	0.75
log(Hepcidin) change from baseline to week 2, fmol/μl	-0.044	0.11	0.69
Haptoglobin change from baseline to week 2, fmol/μl	-0.0052	0.0028	0.076
Male	0.042	0.45	0.93
Refined multivariate model ^b
Intercept	2.20	1.68	0.20
Baseline haemoglobin, g/dl	-0.18	0.12	0.15
log(Haptoglobin) change from baseline to week 2, fmol/μl	-0.0060	0.0021	0.0079

^aMultiple r² = 0.30, P = 0.047; ^bMultiple r² = 0.29, P < 0.0033. CRP, C-reactive protein; SE, standard error.

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