Demographics
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Age (years) | 48.4 (16.3) | 53.9 (14.2) | 39.6 (13.0) | 56.4 (18.8) | 0.13 |
Women, No (%) | 30 (79) | 11 (79) | 11 (69) | 8 (100) | 0.21 |
BMI (kg/m2) | 24.9 (5.1) | 25.3 (4.2) | 24.3 (5.8) | 25.3 (5.4) | 0.83 |
Caucasian, No (%) | 33 (87) | 12 (86) | 13 (81) | 8 (100) | 0.61 |
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Disease characteristics
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Disease duration (years) | 3.2 (0.1–40.0) | 4.0 (0.1–29.9) | 1.5 (0.1–29.0) | 4.9 (0.1–40.0) | 0.46 |
Diagnosis, No (%) | | | | | |
SLE | 10 (26) | 0 (0) | 8 (50) | 2 (25) | 0.01 |
Systemic sclerosis | 12 (32) | 9 (64) | 0 (0%) | 3 (38) | |
Wegener’s granulomatosis | 4 (11) | 1 (7) | 2 (13) | 1 (13) | |
RA | 6 (16) | 3 (21) | 2 (13) | 1 (13) | |
Miscellaneous | 6 (16) | 1 (7) | 4 (25) | 1 (13) | |
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Main indication for treatment, No (%) | | | | | |
Lung disease | 19 (50) | 9 (64) | 3 (19) | 7 (88) | 0.04 |
Kidney disease | 4 (11) | 0 (0) | 4 (25) | 0 (0) | |
CNS involvement | 2 (5) | 1 (7) | 1 (6) | 0 (0) | |
Vasculitis | 6 (16) | 2 (14) | 4 (25) | 0 (0) | |
Resistant RA | 2 (5.3) | 1 (7) | 0 (0) | 1 (13) | |
Miscellaneous | 5 (13) | 1 (7) | 4 (25) | 0 (0) | |
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Months at follow up | 5.7 (2.3–33.7) | 4.2 (2.6–11.5) | 7.2 (2.3–33.7) | 13.8 (3.3–29.2) | 0.03 |
Mean ESR during follow up (mm/1st h) | 13.8 (0–49.3) | 18.5 (0–43.12) | 11.7 (2.4–48.7) | 6.1 (1.1–49.3) | 0.49 |
Mean CRP during follow up (mg/l) | 10.4 (5.0–108.5) | 9.7 (5.0–82.3) | 9.5 (5.0–44.1) | 11.6 (5.7–108.5) | 0.42 |
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Anti-inflammatory treatment during follow up
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Number of MP pulses | 5.7 (2.0) | 5.86 (1.66) | 5.5 (2.5) | 5.6 (1.5) | 0.89 |
Cumulative MP dose (mg) | 2969 (1612) | 3521 (1581) | 2617 (1347)) | 2706 (2056) | 0.28 |
3050 (600–7110) | 3430 (1006–7110) | 2625 (630–5000) | 2360 (600–6480) |
Average MP dose (mg) | 536 (230) | 598 (179) | 510 (240) | 475 (297) | 0.43 |
Oral predisolone treatment, No (%) | 20 (53) | 0 | 16 (100) | 4 (50) | – |
Cumulative predisolone dose (mg) | 3450 (980–15150) | 0 | 4332 (4220) | 3980 (635) | – |
3349 (980–15150) | 4313 (3248–4380) |
Oral prednisolone (mg/day) | 10.0 (5.0–35.0) | 0 | 10.0 (5.0–35.0) | 7.5 (5.0–7.5) | – |
Cumulative exposure to corticosteroid as equivalent prednisolone dose (mg) | 5850 (3722) | 4401 (1977) | 7604 (4460) | 4875 (3322) | 0.04 |
5234 (1258–18588) | 4288 (1258–8888) | 6480 (1823–18588) | 3999 (1813–12413) |
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Daily exposure to corticosteroid as equivalent prednisolone dose (mg/day) | 27.4 (16.3) 23.9 (5.9–76.2) | 31.1 (13.7) 29.5 (9.5–50.5) | 30.9 (18.8) 27.8 (11.6–76.2) | 13.9 (6.0) 14.4 (5.9–21.9) | 0.03 |
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Cyclophosphamide at follow up, No (%) | 34 (89) | 12 (86) | 15 (94) | 7 (88) | 0.76 |
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Osteoporosis treatment during follow up
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ART, No (%) | 8 (21) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 8 (100) | – |
Oestrogen | 3 | | | 3 | |
Bisphosphonates | 5 | | | 5 | |
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Calcium alone, No (%) | 4 (11) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (50) | 0.00 |
Calcium and vitamin D, No (%) | 11 (29) | 2 (14) | 7 (44) | 2 (25) | 0.20 |