Table 1

Baseline patient characteristics

Placebo (n=13)Tocilizumab (n=13)
Age, years55.5 (17.9)51.3 (20.3)
Female, n (%)10 (76.9)10 (76.9)
Disease duration*, years0.1 (0.0–10.8)0.5 (0.1–23.8)
Body weight, kg53.8 (9.9)56.1 (9.6)
Swollen joint count5.7 (3.3)4.2 (2.7)
Tender joint count5.5 (3.3)4.2 (3.6)
Patient pain VAS, mm37.2 (26.3)33.8 (30.2)
Patient global VAS, mm44.5 (29.2)33.7 (28.8)
Physician global VAS, mm42.3 (20.1)38.4 (24.5)
HAQ–DI1.0 (1.0)0.7 (0.9)
CRP, mg/dL4.7 (4.5)4.2 (4.1)
Ferritin, ng/mL3869 (6272)2920 (1376)
SFS5.1 (1.4)4.6 (1.7)
Fever, n (%)6 (46.2)6 (46.2)
Skin rash, n (%)7 (53.8)8 (61.5)
ANA positivity, n (%)5 (38.5)8 (61.5)
RF positivity, n (%)0 (0.0)1 (7.7)
Anti-CCP positivity, n (%)0 (0.0)0 (0.0)
PSL dose, mg/day32.5 (20.4)23.0 (16.2)
  • Data are mean (SD) unless otherwise stated.

  • *Median (IQR).

  • ANA, antinuclear antibody; CRP, C reactive protein; HAQ–DI, Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index; PSL, prednisolone; RF, rheumatoid factor;SFS, systemic feature score; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale;anti-CCP, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody.