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Table 3 Evolution of lymphocyte subpopulations levels in patients with RA under biologic drugs

From: Th17 and CD24hiCD27+ regulatory B lymphocytes are biomarkers of response to biologics in rheumatoid arthritis

Lymphocyte populations

Patients M0 (n = 31)

Patients M1 (n = 29)

Patients M3 (n = 29)

Patients M6 (n = 26)

p (6 months)

Lymphocytes

 (%)

23.8 (18.2–29.9)

29.8 (17.9–36.7)

28.9 (22.9–33.4)

29.55 (20.95–36.8)

0.140

 (/mm)

1600 (1300–2000)

1600 (1300–2200)

1900 (1500–2300)

1550 (1300–1900)

0.117

B lymphocytes

 (%)

11.07 (8.28–16.05)

11.60 (8.94–17.47)

12.42 (8.44–15.96)

10.365 (8.38–14.52)

0.077

 (/mm3)

156.15 (95.5–270.2)

201.57 (143.02–314.80)

192.63 (122.65–260.56)

180.66 (119.86–255.99)

0.989

T2/Breg

 (%)

8.46 (5.95–10.35)

6.43 (4.31–9.92)

8.54 (6.35–12.5)

9.35 (5.93–12.65)

0.099

 (/mm)

12.75 (8.88–21.15)

13.47 (8.85–24.43)

15.29 (9.06–28.36)

15.81 (8.40–22.83)

0.489

CD24hiCD27+ Breg

 (%)

16.34 (13.2–27.71)

18.53 (15.02–31.61)

20.16 (14.81–30.26)

23.33 (14.02–33.00)

0.246

 (/mm3)

33.26 (20.1–43.84)

34.87 (23.29–65.00)

35.22 (22.38–66.29)

35.54 (17.28–55.98)

0.813

Treg

 (%)

6.37 (4.91–7.98)

5.41 (4.36–7.06)

5.54 (4.63–6.85)

6.38 (4.87–7.02)

0.048*

 (/mm3)

49.40 (37.6–62.52)

40.36 (30.60–60.24)

47.7 (35.89–65.28)

51.20 (34.97–66.14)

0.702

Th17

 (%)

19.57 (13.4–22.48)

19.0 (12.87–24.39)

19.01 (14.63–23.90)

19.50 (14.40–25.85)

0.928

 (/mm3)

76.85 (49.1–96.77)

76.4 (47.75–112.7)

77.10 (61.80–113.43)

77.27 (65.66–91.44)

0.958

  1. Total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, T2/B regulatory cells (Breg), CD24hiCD27+ Breg, T regulatory cells (Treg) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells observed in absolute value (cells/mm3) and percentage (%) at different stages of the treatment, i.e. M0 (n = 31), M1 (n = 29), M3 (n = 29) and M6 (n = 26) and the difference observed; expressed as median and IQR, Kruskall − Wallis test. RA rheumatoid arthritis. *p < 0.05