Figure 3

Survivin positivity is associated with persistent disease activity and progressive joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The development of radiographically detected joint damage (assessed by Sharp-van der Heijde score SHS)) (A), Disease Activity Score based on evaluation of 28 joints (DAS28) (B), functional disability (Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)) (C) and pain perception (pain scored on Stanford Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)) (D) are presented in the positive and negative groups for survivin on both occasions (positive-positive (n = 139) and negative-negative (n = 129)) and for the positive–negative group (n = 53) and negative–positive group (n = 18). There was a significant overall difference in SHS between groups at 2 and 5 years (P = 0.001 for both time points). Similarly, overall significant differences in DAS28 scores between groups were observed at 2 and 5 years (P = 0.008 and 0.003, respectively).