Baseline characteristics of patients, according to study group
| Characteristic | Methotrexate (n=28) | Sulphasalazine and hydroxychloroquine (n=30) | All three drugs (n=26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (y) | |||
| mean | 50 | 49.8 | 50.4 |
| range | 26–69 | 3–63 | 27–67 |
| Sex (F/M) | 18/10 | 21/9 | 16/10 |
| Rheumatoid factor (% positive) | 89 | 86 | 88 |
| DMARDs previously used | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 |
| Current prednisone therapy (%) | 54 | 47 | 50 |
| Shared epitope (% positive) | 79 | 73 | 69 |