Table 1 The characteristics and the parameters of all patients at baseline and after treatment

Age (year)

58.3 ± 14.1

–

–

Sex (male/female)

14/46

–

–

Disease duration (year)

13.3 ± 12.4

–

–

Steinbrocker stage (I/II/III/IV)

7/14/21/18

–

–

Steinbrocker class (1/2/3/4)

14/27/13/6

–

–

Concomitant MTX (%)

55

–

–

MTX dosage (mg/week)

8.91 ± 2.65

–

–

Concomitant PSL (%)

45

–

–

PSL dosage (mg/day)

3.70 ± 1.86

–

–

Smoking history (%)

10

–

–

ACPA positive (%)

80

–

–

CRP (mg/dl)

2.07 ± 2.21

0.50 ± 1.05

< 0.01

ESR (mm/h)

62.6 ± 31.4

35.3 ± 27.0

< 0.01

WBC (/μl)

6610 ± 2140

5582 ± 2067

< 0.01

RF (mg/dl)

256.0 ± 876.9

162.7 ± 551.9

0.43

ACPA (U/ml)

91.5 ± 117.1

75.2 ± 96.1

0.36

MMP-3 (ng/ml)

261.30 ± 243.82

118.65 ± 129.42

< 0.01

DAS28-CRP

4.07 ± 1.23

2.35 ± 1.01

< 0.01

Joints SUV

2.13 ± 0.65

1.67 ± 0.50

< 0.01

Periodontal SUV

1.83 ± 0.46

1.88 ± 0.45

0.39