Table 1 Patients background.

Patient number

42

34

103

17

Age

57.0 ± 15.9

57.9 ± 17.9

52.3 ± 13.0

51.9 ± 6.7

RA duration

1.8 ± 1.7

2.0 ± 1.9

2.2 ± 1.3

2.1 ± 1.2

Steinbrocker stage

2.5 ± 0.6

2.6 ± 1.1

2.4 ± 0.8

2.4 ± 0.9

Steinbrocker class

2.3 ± 0.9

2.0 ± 0.8

1.7 ± 0.6

1.4 ± 0.5

MTX dose (mg/week)

4.9 ± 3.9

3.1 ± 3.2

5.5 ± 4.4

6.2 ± 5.4

glucocorticoid dose (mg/day)

1.5 ± 3.8

3.7 ± 4.0

2.7 ± 2.8

3.9 ± 3.0

Total sharp score

71.4 ± 72.9

87.8 ± 91.4

45.0 ± 46.4

53.5 ± 63.6

Sharp score (erosion)

34.5 ± 40.1

42.3 ± 53.8

28.6 ± 34.9

25.9 ± 28.6

Sharp score (joint narrow)

37.6 ± 36.3

43.6 ± 44.3

25 ± 29.7

19.1 ± 18.6

Total sharp score/year

37.7 ± 45.8

50.6 ± 45.0

25.2 ± 27.1

22.4 ± 18.3

Sharp score (erosion)/year

21.2 ± 23.7

23.8 ± 24.0

13.1 ± 14.5

12.5 ± 10.9

Sharp score (joint narrow)/year

19.7 ± 21.8

26.8 ± 24.8

12.0 ± 14.0

9.8 ± 8.1