Table 2

Demographics and baseline disease characteristics

CharacteristicPlacebo + MTX (n=172)Rituximab 2×500 mg + MTX (n=167)Rituximab 2×1000 mg + MTX (n=170)
Mean (SD) age, years52.16 (12.390)51.91 (12.926)51.30 (12.644)
Female, n (%)147 (85.5)133 (79.6)138 (81.2)
Caucasian, n (%)142 (82.6)134 (80.2)137 (80.6)
Mean (SD) disease duration, years7.48 (7.642)7.10 (6.969)6.61 (7.294)
Mean (SD) MTX dose, mg/week16.6 (4.30)15.4 (4.02)16.1 (4.25)
Mean (SD) number of previous DMARDs*1.1 (1.10)1.2 (1.25)1.1 (1.11)
Patients receiving oral steroids, n (%)82 (47.7)80 (47.9)67 (39.4)
Mean (SD) OCS dose, mg/day6.3 (2.68)5.8 (2.52)6.1 (2.58)
RF positive, n (%)129 (75.0)126 (75.4)125 (73.5)
Mean (SD) total RF, IU/ml264.1 (492.03)307.2 (774.94)288.1 (539.5)
Mean (SD) SJC (66 joints)20.9 (11.26)18.6 (9.62)19.5 (10.32)
Mean (SD) TJC (68 joints)30.2 (15.94)27.1 (14.10)28.7 (14.98)
Mean (SD) DAS28-ESR6.54 (1.015)6.40 (0.951)6.49 (1.061)
Mean (SD) DAS28-CRP5.95 (0.972)5.81 (0.912)5.86 (0.967)
  • * Excludes MTX.

  • CRP, C reactive protein; DAS28, Disease Activity Score (28 joints); DMARDs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; MTX, methotrexate; OCS, oral corticosteroid; RF, rheumatoid factor; SJC, swollen joint count; TJC, tender joint count.