Clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings in the study groups. Values represent mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range).
| Characteristic | Controls, n = 100 | RA Patients | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline, n = 100 | Posttreatment, n = 97 | ||
| Age, yrs | 48 (36–61) | 51 (37–65) | — |
| Male/female | 20/80 | 25/75 | 23/74 |
| Disease duration, yrs | — | 0.4 (0.3–0.6) | — |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 25.8 ± 3.7 | 25.6 ± 3.3 | 25.8 ± 3.0 |
| DAS-28 | — | 6.09 ± 0.72 | 3.5 ± 0.71** |
| ESR, mm/h | 9.10 ± 3.28 | 50.93 ± 20.81 | 25.6 ± 10.8** |
| hsCRP, mg/l | 3.1 ± 1.84 | 6.49 ± 3.9 | 3.5 ± 2.23** |
| Total cholesterol, mg/dl | 174.20 ± 14.09 | 225.66 ± 30.12* | 235.66 ± 30.93*** |
| Triglycerides, mg/dl | 90.30 ± 18.80 | 135.33 ± 46.31* | 135.13 ± 46.78 |
| LDL-C, mg/dl | 122 ± 16.46 | 141.33 ± 24.41* | 140.03 ± 22.02 |
| HDL-C, mg/dl | 54.50 ± 11.81 | 43.06 ± 8.12* | 58.06 ± 14.12** |
| TC/HDL-C | 3.4 ± 0.27 | 5.61 ± 1.37* | 4.3 ± 1.25** |
| LDL-C/HDL-C | 2.5 ± 0.71 | 3.5 ± 1.02* | 2.7 ± 1.04** |
| Apolipoprotein B, g/l | 90 ± 29 | 120 ± 25* | 122 ± 28 |
| Apolipoprotein A-I, g/l | 149 ± 43 | 125 ± 27* | 152 ± 22** |
| IL-6, pg/ml | 5.1 ± 3.0 | 52.3 ± 42.2* | 22.5 ± 20.3** |
| TNF-α, pg/ml | 3.51 ± 0.87 | 9.79 ± 3.42* | 5.95 ± 2.64** |
| HOMA-IR index | 0.5 ± 0.3 | 5.6 ± 3.06* | 4.1 ± 2.12** |
| RF, IU/ml | 14.6 ± 5.5 | 203 ± 200.3* | 180 ± 160.2** |
| Anti-CCP3, U/ml | 14.11 ± 7.45 | 350.5 ± 344.7* | 305.4 ± 290.5** |
| Anti-MCV, U/ml | 23.12 ± 12.04 | 665.77 ± 647.19* | 476.55 ± 465.18** |
| cIMT, mm | 0.54 ± 0.11 | 0.84 ± 0.27* | 0.64 ± 0.18** |
↵* p < 0.001 compared to control group;
↵** p < 0.001 and
↵*** p < 0.05 compared to baseline values. DAS-28: Disease Activity Score for 28 joints; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; hsCRP: high sensitivity C-reactive protein; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; HOMA-IR: homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance; cIMT: carotid intima-media thickness.