The Contribution of Four Immunogenetic Markers for Predicting Persistent Activity in Patients with Recent-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis or Undifferentiated Arthritis

Table 1

Characteristics of patients (𝑁=201).

Variables^a	𝑛 (%)	Mean (SD)
Age (years)	—	51.4 (17.2)
Women	144 (71.6)	—
Positive anti-CCP	88 (43.8)	68.3 (97.8)
Positive RF	85 (42.3)	137.0 (281.5)
SE
−/−	116 (57.7)	—
−/+	69 (34.3)	—
+/+	16 (8.0)	—
−308 TNFα ^b
GG	155 (79.9)	—
GA/AA	39 (20.1)	—
CRP (mg/L)	—	13.8 (15.7)
ESR (mm/h)	—	37.5 (22.0)
Swollen joint count	—	12.0 (6.9)
Tender joint count	—	14.1 (7.6)
DAS28	—	6.3 (1.4)
HAQ	—	1.1 (0.7)
Classification criteria
1987 ARA criteria for RA	108 (53.7)	—
UA	93 (46.3)	—
Number of DMARD
0	11 (5.5)	—
1	24 (11.9)	—
2	88 (43.8)	—
3	78 (38.8)	—
DMARD
Methotrexate (MTX)	162 (80.6)	—
Leflunomide (LEF)	81 (40.3)	—
Chloroquine (CLQ)	69 (34.3)	—
Sulphasalazine (SLZ)	54 (26.9)	—
Cyclosporine (CYC)	16 (8.0)	—
Azathioprine	3 (1.5)	—
MTX + SLZ + CLQ	74 (36.8)	—
MTX + LEF	59 (29.4)	—
MTX + SLZ	39 (19.4)	—
MTX + CYC	16 (8.0)	—
MTX + CLQ	31 (15.4)
Corticosteroids
Yes	185 (92.0)	—
No	16 (8.0)	—

^a All variables measured at baseline, except treatments, which are accumulated throughout followup.
^b−308 TNFα could not be genotyped in 7 patients.
Abbreviations: SD: standard deviation. Anti-CCP: anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. RF: rheumatoid factor. SE: shared epitope. –308 TNFα: G-to-A polymorphism at position 308 of the TNFα gene promoter. CRP: C-reactive protein. ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate. DAS28: Disease Activity Score. HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire. ARA: American Rheumatism Association. RA: rheumatoid arthritis. UA: undifferentiated arthritis. DMARD: disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.