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Table 1 Characteristics of the RA patients at presentation with clinically suspect arthralgia and at first identification of clinical arthritis and age-matched symptom-free volunteers

From: Sequence of joint tissue inflammation during rheumatoid arthritis development

 

At presentation with arthralgia (n = 31)

At presentation with RA (n = 31)

Age-matched symptom-free volunteers (n = 62)

Age (years), mean (SD)

44 (14)

44 (13)

Female sex, n (%)

22 (71)

38 (61)

Symptom duration (weeks), median (IQR)

17 (9–32)

n/a

Presence of morning stiffness ≥ 60 min, n (%)

11 (35)

24 (77)

0 (0)

68-TJC, median (IQR)

5 (4–10)

7 (5–12)

0 (0–0)

66-SJC, median (IQR)

0 (0–0)

2 (1–5)

0 (0–0)

Increased CRP (≥ 5 mg/L), n (%)

6 (19)

7 (29)

n/a

Autoantibody status

 IgM-RF-positive (≥ 3.5 IU/mL), n (%)

13 (42)

13 (42)

n/a

 ACPA-positive (≥ 7 U/mL), n (%)

9 (29)

9 (29)

n/a

 Any antibody-positive (either RF or ACPA)

16 (52)

16 (52)

n/a

  1. ACPA anti-citrullinated peptide antibody, CRP C-reactive protein, IgM-RF immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor, IQR interquartile range, n/a not applicable or not assessed, RA rheumatoid arthritis, RF rheumatoid factor, SD standard deviation, SJC swollen joint count, TJC tender joint count