Table 1 Characteristics of patients with a rheumatic disease and the controls

Age, years, mean ± SD

73.05 ± 8.03

73.35 ± 8.55

0.98

Sex, female/male

44/36

24/13

0.31

ESR, mm/h, mean ± SD

65.11 ± 32.01

35.60 ± 25.89

<0.001

CRP, mg/L, mean ± SD

80.79 ± 74.05

12.83 ± 19.92

<0.001

Platelets, Giga/L, mean ± SD

371.89 ± 119.56

262.50 ± 89.59

<0.001

Serum VEGF, pg/ml, median (ITQ)

849 (450.50–1235.50)

484 (308–555)

<0.001

Plasma VEGF, pg/ml, median (ITQ)

86 (50.50–148.50)

67 (43–105)

0.16