Fig. 2

Mean (SE) changes in concentrations of MBDA biomarkers over the first 5 months of the CAMERA-II study. Mean (SE) changes in concentrations of MBDA biomarkers over the first 5 months of the CAMERA-II study Each measurement was performed in serum obtained prior to dosing with MTX and placebo (MTX+plac) or MTX and prednisone (MTX+pred) at that time-point. Means and standard errors were calculated using log10-transformed values of the biomarker concentrations and, for graphic display, were then converted to fractional values relative to baseline on a linear scale (see the “Methods” section). Patient numbers for each time-point in each strategy arm are the same as in the MBDA panel of Fig. 1. Four profiles of biomarker response categories can be observed: (1) statistically significant gradual reduction in biomarker concentration with the MTX+plac strategy versus a more rapid and statistically significantly greater reduction in biomarker concentration with the MTX+pred strategy (CRP, IL-6, VEGF), yellow background in figure; (2) little (but not statistically significant, except for EGF only at month 2 in MTX+pred), or no response to either treatment, with no significant difference between strategies (EGF, MMP-3, resistin), red background in figure; (3) little (but not statistically significant) or no biomarker response with the MTX+plac strategy versus a more rapid and statistically significantly greater biomarker response with the MTX+pred strategy (decrease: MMP-1, VCAM-1, TNF-R1, YKL-40; increase: leptin), blue background in figure; and (4) significant gradual reduction in biomarker concentration over time with the MTX+plac strategy and the MTX+pred strategy, with no statistically significant difference between the two arms (SAA), green background in figure