Table 2 Changes in FDG parameters and clinical parameters after treatment

 Mean SUV_max

1.83 ± 0.34

1.90 ± 0.34

0.059

 TBR

1.71 ± 0.23

1.75 ± 0.29

0.222

 ESR (mm/h)

62.3 ± 32.2

36.5 ± 28.6

< 0.001

 CRP (mg/dL)^a

1.3 (0.4–3.0)

0.1 (0.0–0.6)

< 0.001

 MMP-3 (ng/mL)^a

153.6 (70.5–412.6)

65.2 (39.3–133.4)

< 0.001

 WBC (/μL)

6537.5 ± 2239.2

5609.4 ± 1992.5

< 0.001

 % neutrophils

68.7 ± 9.2

57.9 ± 12.7

< 0.001

 % eosinophils

2.3 ± 2.3

3.0 ± 2.6

0.004

 % basophils

0.4 ± 0.2

0.5 ± 0.3

< 0.001

 % monocytes

5.3 ± 1.8

6.3 ± 2.2

0.003

 % lymphocytes

22.2 ± 7.5

31.3 ± 11.6

< 0.001

 ACPA (U/mL)^a

87.4 (12.1–100.0)

55.8 (8.0–100.0)

0.276

 ACPA positive, n (%)

34 (53.1)

29 (45.3)

< 0.001

 RF (U/mL)^a

49 (13–137)

27 (10–79)

< 0.001

 RF positive, n (%)

34 (53.1)

25 (39.1)

< 0.001

 DAS28-ESR

5.0 ± 1.2

3.3 ± 1.2

< 0.001