Table 1 Demographic and clinical data for the patients according to the diagnosis based on the analysis of joint fluid

Sex (% male)

92

68

79

NS

Age (years), mean (SD)

65 (12)

75 (15)

67 (10)

NS

First attack of arthritis (%)

41

70

67

NS

Monoarticular arthritis (n)

31

26

11

<0.05^b,c

Oligoarticular arthritis (n)

29

11

10

<0.05*

CRP (mg/l), mean, n = 10 mg/l (SD)

108 (77)

76 (84)

46 (42)

<0.05^d

Urate (μmol/l), mean (SD)

477 (160)

335 (113)

390 (131)

<0.05^e