Changes in Serum Cytokines May Predict Therapeutic Efficacy of Tofacitinib in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Table 1

Baseline characteristics of patients with RA.

Characteristics	Patients with RA ()
Demographics
Age, median (IQR), years	44 (31-59)
Sex (F/M)	25/7
Disease duration, median (IQR), years	6.1 (5.2-15.0)
Disease characteristics
ESR, median (IQR), mm/h	91.0 (76.6-98.8)
CRP, median (IQR), mg/L	73.3 (52.8-90.7)
TJC, median (IQR)	7 (2-23)
SJC, median (IQR)	7 (1-20)
HAQ-DI, median (IQR)	2.7 (2.2-3.0)
Pain VAS, median (IQR), cm	7.0 (6.0-8.8)
DAS28, median (IQR)	5.6 (5.0-5.9)
RF positive, (%)	31 (96.9%)
ACPA positive, (%)	23 (71.9%)
Concomitant medications
MTX, (%)	15 (46.9)
LEF, (%)	13 (40.6)
SSZ, (%)	4 (12.5)
HCQ, (%)	23 (71.9)
NSAIDs, (%)	26 (81.3)
CS, (%)	8 (25.0)
Oral prednisone dose (mg/day)	10 (5-10)
Baseline serum levels of cytokines
IFN-γ, median (IQR), pg/mL	12.5 (8.6-17.2)
IL-6, median (IQR), pg/mL	18.2 (17.2-19.4)
IL-17, median (IQR), pg/mL	25.5 (23.1-26.9)
IL-35, median (IQR), pg/mL	22.4 (15.1-28.0)
TNF-α, median (IQR), pg/mL	16.7 (14.0-19.2)

Abbreviations: RA: rheumatoid arthritis; IQR: interquartile range; F: female; M: male; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reaction protein; TJC: tender joint count; SJC: swollen joint count; HAQ-DI: Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; VAS: visual analogue scale; DAS28: disease activity score in 28 joints based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate; RF: rheumatoid factor; ACPAs: anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; NSAID: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; CS: corticosteroid; MTX: methotrexate; LEF: leflunomide; SSZ: sulfasalazine; HCQ: hydroxychloroquine.