Baseline characteristics of patients with SpA (n = 85). Data are n (%) unless otherwise indicated.
| Age, yrs, mean ± SD | 39.3 ± 11.4 |
| Sex, male | 63 (74.1) |
| Disease duration, yrs, mean ± SD | 13.1 ± 9.5 |
| HLA-B27 | 75 (88.2) |
| Patients with axial disease | 79 (92.9) |
| Patients with peripheral disease | 10 (11.8) |
| Patients with psoriasis | 8 (9.4) |
| Patients with inflammatory bowel disease | 7 (8.2) |
| BASDAI, mean ± SD | 55.0 ± 20.2 |
| BASFI, mean ± SD | 50.6 ± 25.7 |
| VAS pain, mean ± SD | 64 ± 21 |
| CRP, mg/l, median (range) | 19 (11–37) |
| ESR, mm/h, median (range) | 23.5 (15.0–31.5) |
| Current use of corticosteroids | 12 (14.1) |
VAS: visual analog scale; SpA: spondyloarthritis; BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein.