Disease activity markers at baseline and followup.
| Variables | Baseline | Followupb | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All, n = 41 | Male, n = 25 | Female, n = 16 | pa | All, n = 41 | Male, n = 25 | Female, n = 16 | pa | |
| CRP, mg/l, median (IQR) | 5 (2–13) | 6 (3–21) | 4.5 (1.5–7) | NS | 1 (1–4) | 1 (1–4) | 1.5 (1–2) | NS |
| ESR, mm/h, median (IQR) | 15 (5–34) | 15 (4–34) | 14 (5.5–32) | NS | 3 (2–9) | 3 (2–9) | 5 (3–19) | NS |
| ASDAS-CRP, mean (SD) | 3 (1.1) | 3.2 (1.3) | 2.8 (0.7) | NS | 2 (1.2) | 1.9 (1.2) | 2.2 (1.2) | NS |
| < 1.3, % | 7.3 | 12 | 0 | NS | 31.7 | 36 | 25 | NS |
| 1.3–2, % | 14.6 | 16 | 12.5 | NS | 22 | 24 | 18.8 | NS |
| 2.1–3.5, % | 43.9 | 28 | 68.8 | 0.01 | 31.7 | 24 | 43.8 | NS |
| > 3.5, % | 34.1 | 44 | 18.8 | NS | 14.6 | 16 | 12.5 | NS |
| BASDAI, median (IQR) | 5.1 (4–6.5) | 5.1 (3.1–7) | 5.2 (4.2–6.1) | NS | 3.5 (1.2–5.5) | 3.4 (1.2–4.4) | 5.3 (1.2–6.5) | NS |
| BASDAI ≥ 4, % | 75.6 | 68 | 87.5 | NS | 41.5 | 32 | 56.3 | NS |
↵a For differences between men and women.
↵b Median followup was 14.3 months (IQR 8.4–19.4). CRP: C-reactive protein; IQR: interquartile range; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ASDAS: Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score; BASDAI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; NS: not significant.