Table 1

Demographic data of the study participants

Healthy controls
n=8
At risk individuals
n=13
Early arthritis patients
n=14
Sex, female (%)5 (63)10 (77)9 (64)
Age (years) (median (IQR))32 (28–44)48 (34–54)54 (34–60)
IgM-RF positive (n (%))0 (0)5 (39)7 (50)
IgM-RF level* (kU/l) (median (IQR)265 (79–1049)120 (69–563)
ACPA positive (n (%))0 (0)8 (62)7 (50)
ACPA level* (kAU/l) (median (IQR))224 (136–685)678 (119–2443)
IgM-RF and ACPA both pos (n (%))0 (0)0 (0)5 (36)
ESR (mm/h) (median (IQR))7 (2–14)†12 (8–14)
CRP (mg/l) (median (IQR))0.9 (0.5–4.4)1.6 (0.6–6.1)5.6 (1.1–14.4)
68 TJC (n) (median (IQR))0 (0)2 (1–5)13 (4–27)
66 SJC (n) (median (IQR))0 (0)0 (0)7 (4–11)
  • Categorical variables: n (%). Continuous variables (data not normally distributed): median (IQR).

  • *Levels only in positive patients.

  • †Level missing from one individual.

  • ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibodies; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP, C-reactive protein; IgM-RF, IgM rheumatoid factor; 68 TJC, tender joint count of 68 joints; 66 SJC, swollen joint count of 66 joints.