Demographic and clinical measures of patients with remission and without remission. Remission was defined using clinical measures (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index ≤ 20/100 and no peripheral joint disease) and biological measures (C-reactive protein levels less than or equal to normal value).
| Characteristics | Total | With Remission | Without Remission |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. patients | 189 | 65 | 124 |
| Male, n (%) | 121 (64.0) | 51 (78.5) | 70 (56.5) |
| Mean age, yrs, ± SD | 45.6 ± 12.5 | 45.0 ± 13.8 | 45.9 ± 11.9 |
| Mean disease duration, yrs, ± SD | 12.7 ± 10.0 | 13.9 ± 10.1 | 12.1 ± 10.0 |
| HLA-B27-positive (%) | 77.1 | 79.5 | 76.0 |
| C-reactive protein ≥ normal values (%) | 64.2 | 69.2 | 62.5 |