Table 2 Disease characteristics and co-administered medications at rituximab initiation (univariate comparisons between patients under SD and LD RTX)
All patients | Standard dose | Low dose | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
RA-related characteristics | ||||
DAS28-ESR | 5.73 (1.74, 8.69; 1.43) | 5.77 (1.93, 8.69; 1.42) | 5.66 (1.74, 8.66; 1.590 | 0.800 |
DAS28-CRP | 4.70 (1.06, 7.32; 1.31) | 4.70 (1.07, 7.02; 1.19) | 4.66 (1.06, 7.32; 1.49) | 0.279 |
ESR | 29 (0, 135; 28) | 27 (0, 135; 29) | 34 (3, 92; 28) | 0.003 |
CRP (mg/dL) | 0.34 (0, 14; 0.64) | 0.33 (0.00, 14.00, 0.50) | 0.46 (0.00, 13.40; 1.64) | 0.006 |
Swollen 28 | 8 (0, 27; 7) | 9 (0, 27; 7) | 7 (0, 24; 6) | 0.015 |
Tender 28 | 9.5 (0, 28; 10) | 10 (0, 28; 11) | 8 (0, 26; 11) | 0.098 |
VAS Global | 70 (0,100; 30) | 70 (0, 100; 30) | 70 (0,100;30) | 0.949 |
VAS Phys | 75 (5,100; 12) | 75 (5, 100; 10) | 75 (25, 100; 25) | 0.058 |
VAS pain | 70 (0,100; 30) | 70 (0, 100; 30) | 70 (20, 100; 25) | 0.995 |
mHAQ | 1.0 (0, 2.8; 0.8) | 1.0 (0, 2.8; 0.7) | 1.0 (0, 2.1; 1.0) | 0.360 |
EQ5D | 0.175 (-0.43, 0.80; 0.66) | 0.2 (-0.43, 0.80; 0.61) | 0.0 (-0.24, 0.73; 0.67) | 0.217 |
Co-medications | ||||
MTX | 222 (61.5%) | 164 (58.6%) | 58 (71.6%) | 0.120 |
Leflunomide | 106 (29.4%) | 82 (29.3%) | 24 (29.6%) | 0.952 |
Hydroxychloroquine | 71 (19.7%) | 53 (18.9%) | 18 (22.2%) | 0.511 |
Sulfasalazine/cyclosporine | 7 (2%) | 6 (2.1%) | 1 (1.2%) | 0.895a |
Prednisolone | 163 (45.1%) | 125 (44.6%) | 38 (46.9%) | 0.756 |
Prednisolone daily dose, median (min, max, IQR) | 5 (2.5, 5, 5) | 6 (2.5, 5, 5) | 5 (2.5, 20, 5) | 0.638 |
RTX monotherapy | 55 (15.2%) | 46 (16.4%) | 9 (11.1%) | 0.241 |