Clinical and biological signs of response
| Week 3 (80 mg) (n=10) | Week 3 (160 mg) (n=12) | Week 12 (80 mg) (n=4) | Week 12 (160 mg) (n=12) | Week 12 (160 mg)* (n=18) | |
| CRP reduction ≥50% | 4 (40) | 5 (41.7) | 1 (25) | 6 (50) | 7 (38.9) |
| CRP reduction ≥70% | 2 (20) | 2 (16.7) | 1 (25) | 6 (50) | 7 (36.8) |
| CRP normalisation (≤5 mg/L) | 2 (20) | 3 (25) | 1 (25) | 4 (33.3) | 4 (22.2) |
| Ferritin normalisation (≤150 mg/L) | 2 (20) | 6 (50) | 2 (50) | 6 (50) | 8 (38.9) |
| SJC44† reduction ≥20%‡ | 5 (83.3) | 5 (55.6) | 2 (100) | 8 (88.9) | 10 (76.9) |
| TJC44† reduction ≥20%§ | 7 (87.5) | 4 (44.4) | 2 (100) | 5 (50) | 8 (50) |
| Both joint counts reduction ≥20% | 5 (83.3) | 3 (37.5) | 2 (100) | 5 (62.5) | 7 (58.3) |
| Responders at week 3 (1 or 3+no fever) | 5 (50) | 6 (50) | NA | NA | NA |
| Responders at week 12 (2 or 3 or 4 and 7) | N/A | N/A | 2 (50) | 7 (58.3) | 8 (44.4) |
Data are n (%).
*Includes six patients who were up-titrated to the 160 mg dose and 12 patients initially included in the 160 mg group. For patients who discontinued before week 12, the data correspond to the last observation.
†According to a 44-joint assessment.
‡Patients with SJC44 equal to 0 at baseline were excluded since their reduction could not be computed, leaving 6 patients in group 80 mg (week 3), 10 patients in group 160 mg (week 3), 2 patients in group 80 mg (week 12) and 14 patients in group 160 mg (week 12).
§Patients with TJC44 equal to 0 at baseline were excluded since their reduction could not be computed, leaving 8 patients in group 80 mg (week 3), 10 patients in group 160 mg (week 3), 2 patients in group 80 mg (week 12) and 17 patients in group 160 mg (week 12). At week 12, four patients continued their treatment at the dose of 80 mg.
CRP, C reactive protein; NA, not applicable; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count.