Selected clinical characteristics of 32 patients with RA and 28 healthy control subjects
| Data | Rheumatoid arthritis (n = 32) | Control subjects (n = 28) | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (SD) and median (interquartile range). | |||
| CRP, C reactive protein; actual CRP, CRP at the moment of ultrasound examination; average CRP, CRP levels evaluated at different times during the disease (at least four determinations/year); CRP duration, average CRP multiplied by the duration of the disease in years. | |||
| Age (years) | 50 (7) | 48 (8) | NS |
| Men (%) | 13 | 16 | NS |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 23 (2) | 22 (2) | NS |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/1st h) | 26 (15) | 11 (5) | <0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 131 (14) | 137 (12) | NS |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 72 (6) | 71 (5) | NS |
| Actual CRP (mg/l) | 10.4 (5–18) | 2 (1–6) | <0.001 |
| Average CRP (mg/l) | 14 (9–23) | 2 (1–7) | <0.001 |
| CRP duration (mg/l×years) | 112 (50–299) | – | – |
| Rheumatoid factor positive (%) | 53 | – | – |
| Bone erosions (%) | 49 | – | – |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/l) | 5.7 (0.9) | 5.1 (1.1) | <0.05 |
| LDL cholesterol (mmol/l) | 3.5 (0.8) | 3.2 (1.0) | NS |
| HDL cholesterol (mmol/l) | 1.6 (0.5) | 1.3 (0.4) | <0.05 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/l) | 1.0 (0.7) | 1.3 (0.6) | NS |
| Homocysteine (μmol/l) | 5.9 (1.6) | 6.8 (2.8) | NS |