Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the study sample

Number of patients (n)

38

36

16

Female

26 (68.4%)

28 (77.8%)

9 (56.3%)

Age (years), mean ± SD

52.1 ± 14.1

52.9 ± 14.0

54.4 ± 11.2

Symptom duration (weeks)^a, mean ± SD

10.3 ± 2.3

9.4 ± 2.3

9.8 ± 1.8

Rheumatoid factor positive

13 (34.2%)

13 (36.1%)

7 (43.8%)

Patients who used steroids prior to the study

24 (63.2%)

22 (61.1%)

9 (56.3%)

Anti-citrullinated protein antibody positive

18 (47.4%)

16 (44.4%)

7 (43.8%)

Patients who meet the ACR/EULAR 2010 classification criteria for RA, 2010 [25]

26 (68%)

19 (53%)

12 (75%)

Patients who meet the 1987 ARA classification criteria for RA [35]

22 (58%)

19 (53%)

9 (56%)

Health Assessment Questionnaire (0–3)

0.9 ± 0.7

0.9 ± 0.6

0.7 ± 0.7

Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28; based on ESR)

5.0 ± 1.4

4.8 ± 1.3

4.7 ± 1.1

Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI)

34.3 ± 23.8

31.1 ± 14.4

27.5 ± 20.0

Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI)

25.1 ± 14.7

26.2 ± 13.9

23.5 ± 11.9

Swollen joint count (0–28)

7.2 ± 5.7

6.50 ± 5.1

7.4 ± 4.6

Tender joint count (0–28)

9.2 ± 7.3

10.3 ± 7.2

7.8 ± 5.6

Visual analogue scale pain (mm)

44.0 ± 29.3

44.2 ± 24.3

44.6 ± 22.7

Patient global assessment (mm)

48.6 ± 29.0

47.8 ± 24.7

39.6 ± 21.0

Evaluator/physician global assessment (mm)

38.6 ± 18.3

46.3 ± 22.3

44.6 ± 20.7

C-reactive protein (mg/dl)

1.71 ± 2.40

1.18 ± 1.88

0.98 ± 1.28

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; mm/h)

23.2 ± 20.3

20.3 ± 21.2

20.4 ± 12.6

Total Sharp-van-der-Heide score

2.8 ± 5.4

3 ± 3.8

4.6 ± 8.6

Erosion score

1.2 ± 1.8

1.6 ± 2.2

2.2 ± 4.2

Joint space narrowing score

1.6 ± 3.8

1.4 ± 2.2

2.4 ± 4.4