Patients lacking classical poor prognostic markers might also benefit from a step-down glucocorticoid bridging scheme in early rheumatoid arthritis: week 16 results from the randomized multicenter CareRA trial

Table 1 Patients’ characteristics at baseline per treatment group ^a

^aAlcohol intake, Consumption of any form of alcohol; Anti-CCP, Anti–citrullinated protein antibodies; BMI, Body mass index; COBRA Slim, COmbinatie therapie bij Reumatoïde Artritis; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; Disease duration, Time elapsed between diagnosis of RA and start of treatment; ESR, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; Morning stiffness, Being stiff in the morning for at least 45 minutes; MTX-TSU, Methotrexate with tight step-up, 15 mg of MTX weekly, no oral steroids allowed; PGA, Patient global assessment; PhGA, Physician global assessment; RF, Rheumatoid factor; SJC, Swollen joint count; Symptom duration, Time elapsed between onset of symptoms and start of treatment; TJC, Tender joint count. Values reported are proportions or mean ± standard deviation.