Characteristic | All Patients, n = 100 | EULAR Responders, n = 50 | EULAR Nonresponders, n = 50 |
---|---|---|---|
Age, yrs | 52 ± 10 | 49 ± 11* | 56 ± 8* |
Female, % | 87 | 88 | 86 |
Disease duration, yrs | 5 (2–13) | 5 (2–10) | 7 (3–15) |
RF-positive, % | 67 | 72 | 62 |
Erosive disease, % | 66 | 66 | 66 |
DAS28 | 4.7 ± 1.0 | 4.9 ± 0.8 | 4.6 ± 1.2 |
ESR, mm/h | 16 (8–33) | 15 (8–24) | 18 (8–39) |
CRP, mg/l | 6 (3–19) | 6 (3–21) | 6 (3–17) |
HAQ | 1.1 ± 0.6 | 1.1 ± 0.6 | 1.1 ± 0.7 |
Prior DMARD | 2.9 ± 1.1 | 2.8 ± 1.1 | 2.9 ± 1.2 |
MTX use, % | 79 | 86 | 72 |
MTX dose, mg/wk | 21.5 ± 6.3 | 21.4 ± 5.9 | 21.5 ± 6.9 |
Prednisolone use, % | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Prednisolone dose, mg/day | 6.7 ± 4.2 | 5.2 ± 3.0 | 8.2 ± 4.7 |
Other DMARD than MTX, % | 29 | 36 | 22 |
Cardiovascular risk factors | |||
Body mass index | 25.5 ± 4.7 | 24.9 ± 4.0 | 26.1 ± 5.2 |
Hypertension, % | 23 | 14 | 22 |
Diabetes mellitus, % | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Current smoking, % | 26 | 26 | 26 |
Statin use, % | 12 | 8 | 16 |
Lipid profile | |||
Total cholesterol, mmol/l | 5.0 ± 1.0 | 4.9 ± 1.0 | 5.0 ± 1.0 |
Triglycerides, mmol/l | 1.3 ± 0.5 | 1.2 ± 0.5 | 1.3 ± 0.5 |
HDL cholesterol, mmol/l | 1.3 ± 0.5 | 1.2 ± 0.4 | 1.3 ± 0.5 |
LDL cholesterol, mmol/l | 3.3 ± 0.8 | 3.3 ± 0.8 | 3.4 ± 0.8 |
Total cholesterol/HDL ratio | 4.4 ± 1.9 | 4.4 ± 2.0 | 4.4 ± 1.8 |
ApoA-I, mg/dl | 178 ± 36 | 178 ± 33 | 179 ± 39 |
ApoA-II, mg/dl | 30 ± 7 | 29 ± 6 | 31 ± 8 |
ApoB, mg/dl | 122 ± 31 | 120 ± 33 | 125 ± 29 |
ApoE, mg/dl | 4.4 ± 2.1 | 4.7 ± 2.5 | 4.1 ± 1.6 |
ApoC-III, mg/dl | 9.9 ± 3.3 | 9.3 ± 2.9 | 10.6 ± 3.6 |
ApoB/ApoA-I ratio | 0.7 ± 0.3 | 0.7 ± 0.3 | 0.7 ± 0.3 |
↵* Patients with European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) good response were significantly younger than EULAR nonresponders (p < 0.001). IQR: interquartile range; RF: rheumatoid factor; DAS28: Disease Activity Score of 28 joints; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; MTX: methotrexate; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; apo: apolipoproteins.