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Table 2 Correlations between lymph node indices and patient characteristics at baseline

From: Power Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of the joint-draining lymph node complex in rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective, proof-of-concept study on treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors

  Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient (95 % CI)
LNV index LNCW index LNPD index
Autoimmune status
 IgG ACPA (U/ml)a −0.07 (−0.38 to 0.25)
p = 0.677 		−0.16 (−0.45 to 0.16)
p = 0.321 		−0.04 (−0.35 to 0.27)
p = 0.790
 (ACPA-positive patients) 0.04 (−0.41 to 0.47)
p = 0.874 		−0.20 (−0.59 to 0.27)
p = 0.402 		−0.12 (−0.54 to 0.34)
p = 0.605
 IgM RF (U/ml) −0.01 (−0.33 to 0.30)
p = 0.936 		0.05 (−0.27 to 0.36)
p = 0.752 		0.09 (−0.23 to 0.40)
p = 0.568
 (RF-positive patients) 0.08 (−0.40 to 0.52)
p = 0.760 		0.20 (−0.29 to 0.61)
p = 0.414 		0.23 (−0.27 to 0.63)
p = 0.361
Joint assessment—clinical
 TJC28 0.01 (−0.30 to 0.33)
p = 0.945 		0.01 (−0.30 to 0.33)
p = 0.929 		−0.02 (−0.33 to 0.30)
p = 0.910
 TJC (ipsilateral)b, c −0.02 (−0.34 to 0.29)
p = 0.876 		0.00 (−0.32 to 0.31)
p = 0.994 		−0.07 (−0.38 to 0.25)
p = 0.656
 SJC28 0.14 (−0.18 to 0.44)
p = 0.394 		0.24 (−0.08 to 0.52)
p = 0.142 		0.24 (−0.08 to 0.51)
p = 0.147
 SJC (ipsilateral)b, c 0.15 (−0.17 to 0.44)
p = 0.366 		0.25 (−0.07 to 0.53)
p = 0.121 		0.21 (−0.11 to 0.50)
p = 0.189
Joint assessment—PDUS
 12-joint GS index 0.30 (−0.02 to 0.56)
p = 0.063 		0.33 (0.02–0.59)
p  = 0.039 		0.36 (0.05–0.60)
p  = 0.026
 GS index (ipsilateral)b 0.15 (−0.17 to 0.45)
p = 0.347 		0.39 (0.08–0.62)
p  = 0.015 		0.25 (−0.06 to 0.53)
p = 0.117
 GS index (contralateral) 0.05 (−0.27 to 0.36)
p = 0.767 		0.21 (−0.11 to 0.49)
p = 0.204 		0.14 (−0.18 to 0.44)
p = 0.392
 12-joint PD index 0.46 (0.17–0.68)
p  = 0.003 		0.31 (0.00–0.57)
p = 0.053 		0.35 (0.04–0.60)
p  = 0.029
 PD index (ipsilateral)b 0.40 (0.10–0.64)
p  = 0.011 		0.42 (0.12–0.65)
p  = 0.007 		0.36 (0.05–0.61)
p  = 0.024
 PD index (contralateral) 0.16 (−0.17 to 0.45)
p = 0.340 		0.16 (−0.17 to 0.45)
p = 0.342 		0.19 (−0.13 to 0.48)
p = 0.235
  1. p <0.05 values are highlighted bold
  2. aACPA titers >340 U/ml were not further diluted
  3. bCorrelations between LN and joint parameters in nondominant arm
  4. cJoint count restricted to I–V metacarpophalangeal joints, I–IV proximal and thumb interphalangeal joints, wrist, elbow, shoulder
  5. CI confidence interval, LNV lymph node volume, LNCW lymph node cortical width, LNPD lymph node power Doppler, ACPA anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, RF rheumatoid factor, TJC28 tender joint count in 28 joints, SJC28 swollen joint count in 28 joints, PDUS power Doppler ultrasonography, GS gray scale, PD power Doppler
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Arthritis Research & Therapy

ISSN: 1478-6362

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