Baseline patient demographics and global clinical and ultrasound data
| Final diagnostic group by 1987 criteria | VERA | VENRA | Resolving |
|---|---|---|---|
| n | 29 | 13 | 16 |
| Final diagnosis, n (%) | |||
| RA | 29 (100) | 0 | 0 |
| PsA | 0 | 5 (38) | 1 (6.25) |
| SLE | 0 | 2 (15) | 0 |
| Parvovirus related | 0 | 0 | 1 (6.25) |
| Pseudogout | 0 | 0 | 1 (6.25) |
| Reactive | 0 | 1 (8) | 0 |
| Septic | 0 | 0 | 1 (6.25) |
| Unclassified | 0 | 5 (38) | 12 (75) |
| Age†** | 63 (19–82) | 45 (18–83) | 40 (23–75) |
| Female, n (%) | 13 (45) | 9 (69) | 10 (63) |
| Symptoms duration, weeks† | 7 (2–12) | 6 (3–12) | 4 (1–9) |
| Morning stiffness, min† | 120 (30–360) | 60 (0–240) | 52.5 (0–240) |
| NSAID use, n (%) | 20 (69) | 8 (62) | 13 (81) |
| RF positive, n (%) | 15 (52) | 2 (15) | 0 |
| ACPA positive, n (%) | 14 (48) | 0 | 0 |
| ESR (mm/h)† | 25 (0–104) | 24 (4–87) | 21.5 (0–102) |
| CRP (mg/l)† | 15 (0–102) | 16 (0–83) | 16 (0–244) |
| Swollen joint count of 66†*** | 8 (1–28) | 2 (1–13) | 1.5 (1–7) |
| Tender joint count of 68†* | 9 (0–41) | 3 (0–19) | 2.5 (1–10) |
| DAS28 score† | 4.49 (2.20–6.28) | 3.90 (1.66–6.27) | 3.57 (1.38–4.94) |
| Patients meeting ACR criteria at baseline | |||
| 1987 ACR criteria, n (%) | 12 (41) | 0 | 0 |
| USGS 1987 ACR criteria, n (%)‡ | 16 (55) | 3 (23) | 1 (6) |
| 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria, n (%) | 24 (83) | 2 (15) | 0 |
| USGS 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria, n (%)‡ | 27 (93) | 5 (38) | 2 (13) |
| Clinical pattern, n (%) | |||
| Monarthritis | 1 (3) | 6 (46) | 8 (50) |
| Oligoarthritis (2–5 joints) | 10 (34) | 6 (46) | 7 (44) |
| Polyarthritis (>5 joints) | 18 (62) | 1 (8) | 1 (6) |
| USGS pattern, n (%)‡ | |||
| Monarthritis | 0 | 1 (8) | 0 |
| Oligoarthritis | 1 (3) | 2 (15) | 11 (69) |
| Polyarthritis | 28 (97) | 10 (77) | 5 (31) |
| US variables | |||
| GS index†*** | 35 (5–78) | 14 (2–38) | 6 (2–19) |
| GS count of 38†*** | 15 (5–33) | 9 (1–20) | 3 (2–12) |
| PD index†*** | 25 (5–60) | 9 (2–26) | 5.5 (0–16) |
| PD count of 38†*** | 12 (3–29) | 5 (1–13) | 3 (0–10) |
| Presence of erosions | |||
| Radiographic hand/foot erosion, n (%) | 1 (3.5) | 0 | 0 |
| US hand/foot erosion, n (%) | 11 (38) | 2 (15) | 0 |
| Any US erosion, n (%) | 11 (38) | 2 (15) | 1 (6.25) |
↵† Median (range).
↵‡ Clinical examination variables have been extended by adding ultrasonographic criteria of joint involvement (USGS grade ≥1) and erosion.
ACPA, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; ACR, American College of Rheumatoloty; CRP, C-reactive protein; DAS28, disease activity score in 28 joints; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; EULAR, European League Against Rheumatism; GS, greyscale ultrasound; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PD, power Doppler; PsA, psoriatic arthropathy; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; US, ultrasound.
↵* p<0.05,
↵** p<0.01,
↵*** p<0.001 Kruskal–Wallis test.