Baseline characteristics of study patients by treatment group
| Characteristic | Etanercept group (n=40) | Sulfasalazine group (n=36) | All patients (n=76) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age in years, mean (±SD) | 34.5 (8.6) | 32.8 (8.4) | 33.7 (8.5) |
| Disease duration (back pain duration) in years, mean (±SD) | 2.6 (1.7) | 3.0 (1.8) | 2.9 (1.7) |
| Male patients, n (%) | 23 (57.5) | 21 (58.3) | 44 (57.9) |
| HLA-B27 positive, n (%) | 34 (85) | 28 (77.8) | 62 (81.6) |
| Elevated CRP (CRP >5 mg/l), n (%) | 24 (60.0) | 16 (44.4) | 40 (52.6) |
| Clinical arthritis, n (%) | 15 (37.5) | 18 (50.0) | 33 (43.4) |
| Clinical enthesitis, n (%) | 25 (62.5) | 24 (66.7) | 49 (64.5) |
| Fulfilled New York criteria, n (%)20 | 20 (50) | 19 (52.8) | 39 (51.3) |
For further baseline data see tables 2 and 3.
CRP, C-reactive protein (reference range <5mg/l).