Table 1 Baseline demographic and disease characteristics

Age, mean ± s.d., years

49.3 ± 15.2

50.3 ± 16.3

n.s.

Women, n (%)

16 (76.2)

15 (75.0)

n.s.

Symptom duration, mean ± s.d., months

5.9 ± 2.5

6.3 ± 4.1

n.s.

IgM RF positive, n (%)

15 (71.4)

16 (80.0)

n.s.

ACPAs positive, n (%)

11 (52.4)

12 (60.0)

n.s.

Patient assessment of disease activity (NRS 0–10), mean ± s.d.

6.4 ± 1.3

6.0 ± 1,7

n.s.

Physician assessment of disease activity (NRS 0–10), mean ± s.d.

6.1 ± 1.6

5.7 ± 2.1

n.s.

Tender joint count (0–28), mean ± s.d.

9.0 ± 4.4

7.9 ± 3.1

n.s.

Swollen joint count (0–28), mean ± s.d.

5.5 ± 3.3

4.9 ± 2.5

n.s.

ESR, mean ± s.d.

36.1 ± 22.8

35.9 ± 20.

n.s.

CRP, mean ± s.d., mg/l

32.0 ± 33.4

28.7 ± 26.0

n.s.

CDAI score, 0–76 scale, mean ± s.d.

27.2 ± 3.6

24.3 ± 8.0

n.s.

RAID, score, 0–10 scale, mean ± s.d.

7.5 ± 0.9

6.4 ± 2.5

n.s.

ROAD score, 0–10 scale, mean ± s.d.

4.9 ± 2.14

4.5 ± 2.4

n.s.

Total Sharp Score, 0–448 scale, mean ± s.d.

9.4 ± 4.79

10.8 ± 5.6

n.s.