Skip to main content

Table 3 Comparison of baseline characteristics between successful long-term maintenance group (n = 6) vs. Secondary failure group (n = 4)

From: Successful long-term remission through tapering tocilizumab infusions: a single-center prospective study

 

Secondary failure

(n = 4)

Patients with successful long-term maintenance

(n = 6)

p-value

Age, mean (SD), years

60.75 ± 6.7

41.8 ± 15.23

< 0.05

Female, n (%)

2 (50%)

4 (66.7%)

NS

Disease duration, mean (SD), years

15 ± 14.07

7.8 ± 4.35

NS

TCZ exposure before tapering, months (SD)

19.5 ± 7.23

14.8 ± 7.5

NS

Remission achievement delay, months (SD)

3.5 ± 3.4

2.16 ± 2.4

NS

Remission duration, months (SD)

8 ± 5.7

4.8 ± 2.13

NS

RF positive, n (%)

3 (75%)

2 (33.3%)

NS

ACPA positive, n (%)

3 (75%)

2 (33.3%)

NS

Erosive status, n (%)

4 (100%)

4 (66.7%)

NS

Previous number of sDMARDs

2.75 ± 1.25

2 ± 0.63

NS

Previous number of bDMARDs

1.5 ± 1.73

1.66 ± 1.21

NS

Swollen joint count

0

0.166 ± 0.4

NS

Tender joint count

2.25 ± 2.6

3.16 ± 4.57

NS

Hyperhemia at Doppler

1 (25%)

1 (16.7%)

NS

Number of patients with active synovitis

1 (25%)

4 (66.7%)

NS

Number of active synovitis

 Hands

8

4

NS

 Feet

0

5

NS

Concomitant therapy

 MTX, n (%)

2(50%)

2(33.3%)

NS

 LEF, n (%)

0(0%)

2 (33.3%)

NS

DAS28; mean (SD)

1.48 ± 1.1

1.51 ± 1.05

NS

ESR, mm/h; mean (SD)

7.5 ± 11

6.66 ± 10.1

NS

CRP, mg/L, mean (SD)

2.55 ± 3.3

3 ± 1.87

NS

TCZ plasma level, mg/L; mean (SD)

7.12 ± 7.7

7.35 ± 6.41

NS

ADAb positivity

0

0

NS

Flare, mean (SD)

2 ± 0

1 ± 0.9

0.07

  1. SD standard deviation, n number, TCZ tocilizumab, RF rheumatoid factor, ACPA anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, MTX methotrexate, LEF leflunomide, DAS28 Disease Activity Score in 28 joints, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP C-reactive protein, ADAb antidrug antibodies, NS non significant