Characteristics of the study population
| Mean±SD or frequency (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | TNFα blocker (n=65) | Methotrexate (n=70) | p Value |
| Age (years) | 46.5±11.9 | 47.2±13.1 | 0.75 |
| Gender: male | 44 (67.7%) | 40 (57.1) | 0.21 |
| Duration of PsA (years) | 13.2±9.7 | 10.7±8.8 | 0.12 |
| Swollen joint count at baseline | 4.7±4.1 | 4±4.3 | 0.34 |
| at time 1 | 3±1.8 | 4.9±5.6 | 0.13 |
| at time 2 | 2.3±1.3 | 3.4±2.7 | 0.40 |
| Tender joint count at baseline | 6.2±6.9 | 7.0±6.9 | 0.51 |
| at time 1 | 5.7±4.2 | 7.6±7.1 | 0.23 |
| at time 2 | 2.7±4.6 | 6.2±7.8 | 0.02 |
| Damaged joint count | 9.6±13.5 | 8.5±12.6 | 0.62 |
| PASI at baseline | 6.3±10.8 | 7.7±8.6 | 0.42 |
| at time 1 | 2.8±4.0 | 5.3±5.5 | 0.02 |
| at time 2 | 2.7±4.6 | 6.2±7.8 | 0.02 |
| ESR (mm/h) at baseline | 23.6±18.4 | 28.3±20.2 | 0.17 |
| at time 1 | 15.4±13.9 | 22.2±16.3 | 0.04 |
| at time 2 | 10.5±8.8 | 21.1±15.9 | 0.0005 |
| Anti-TNF use before baseline | 4 (6.2%) | 0 (0%) | 0.04 |
| Use of methotrexate | 16 (24.6%) | 70 (100%) | 0.02 |
| No of DMARD failed | 1.8±1.9 | 1±1.4 | 0.13 |
| Baseline mSS | 30.9±34.6 | 31.6±38.3 | 0.91 |
| HAQ at baseline | 0.9±0.7 | 0.7±0.7 | 0.21 |
| at time 1 | 0.6±0.6 | 0.6±0.6 | 0.89 |
| at time 2 | 0.6±0.6 | 0.7±0.7 | 0.44 |
| Subtype of PsA | |||
| Peripheral | 35 (53.9%) | 38 (55.9%) | 0.81 |
| Peripheral and axial† | 30 (46.2%) | 30 (44.1%) | |
| Maximal dose of methotrexate‡ | 16.7±6.0 | 19.2±29.4 | <0.001 |
†The presence of bilateral at least grade 2 radiographic sacroiliitis or unilateral grade 3 or more radiographic sacroiliitis.
‡Maximal doses of methotrexate during the study period.
DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire; mSS, modification of the Steinbrocker score; PASI, psoriasis area severity index; PsA, psoriatic arthritis; TNFα, tumour necrosis factor α.