Baseline demographics and disease characteristics.
| Characteristics | Enrolled Patients, n = 67 |
|---|---|
| Sex, n (%) | |
| Male | 29 (43.3) |
| Female | 38 (56.7) |
| Age, yrs | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 8.3 (± 4.3)/8.0 (2–19) |
| Age group, n (%), yrs | |
| 2–5 | 22 (32.8) |
| 6–10 | 27 (40.3) |
| 11–15 | 13 (19.4) |
| 16–19 | 5 (7.5) |
| Age at disease onset, yrs* | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 4.4 (± 2.8)/3.7 (0–14) |
| Disease duration, yrs | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 4.4 (± 3.5)/3.8 (0.4–16.2) |
| Previous DMARD treatments, n | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 2.3 (± 1.3)/2 (1–6) |
| Methotrexate, n (%) | 56 (83.6) |
| Cyclosporine, n (%) | 45 (67.2) |
| Mizoribine, n (%) | 19 (28.4) |
| Cyclophosphamide, n (%) | 9 (13.4) |
| PSL-equivalent corticosteroid dose at study entry, mg/kg/day, n = 67 | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 0.51 (± 0.35)/0.37 (0.03–1.8) |
| Active joints, n | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 6.6 (± 8.0)/4 (0–39) |
| Joints with limited range of motion, n | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 6.0 (± 10.5)/1 (0–47) |
| Physician global assessment, mm | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 55.3 (± 17.4)/52.0 (18–100) |
| Parent/patient global assessment, mm | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 53.1 (± 19.3)/52.0 (0–90) |
| CRP, mg/l | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 64.2 (± 55.4)/44.0 (3–291) |
| Normal range | < 3.0 |
| IL-6, pg/ml | |
| Mean (± SD)/median (min–max) | 41.9 (±39.6)/30.0 (0.4–182.0) |
| Normal range | < 4.0 |
↵* Disease developed before each patient’s 16th birthday. DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; PSL: prednisolone; CRP: C-reactive protein; IL: interleukin.