DAS28 scores were significantly lower after TCZ treatment than after IFX treatment in “low IL-6” groups. Patients were sorted into “high IL-6” and “low IL-6” groups, according to level of serum IL-6 at baseline, as below. Statistical significance of differences in post-treatment DAS28 indices between TCZ and IFX treatments in each group was determined by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Values for p < 0.05 indicated by bold type. High IL-6 group: serum IL-6 at baseline > 51.5 pg/ml (mean value of IL-6 for all patients). Low IL-6 group: serum IL-6 at baseline ≤ 51.5 pg/ml.
| High IL-6 Group, n = 22 | |||
| TCZ, n = 11 | IFX, n = 11 | p | |
| DAS28/ESR4 | 3.78 ± 0.74 | 3.85 ± 1.27 | 0.862 |
| DAS28/CRP4 | 3.70 ± 0.59 | 3.48 ± 0.92 | 0.685 |
| Low IL-6 Group, n = 39 | |||
| TCZ, n = 21 | IFX, n = 18 | p | |
| DAS28/ESR4 | 2.39 ± 1.20 | 3.88 ± 1.37 | 0.002 |
| DAS28/CRP4 | 2.24 ± 0.88 | 3.02 ± 1.24 | 0.049 |
DAS28: 28-joint Disease Activity Score; TCZ: tocilizumab; IFX: infliximab; IL: interleukin; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein.