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Table 4 Comparison between patients with one flare or less vs. patients with more than a flare

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

 

Patients with one flare or less

(n = 5)

Patients with more than a flare

(n = 8)

p-value

Age, mean (SD), years

40.8 ± 15.7

52.9 ± 12.5

NS

Female, n (%)

3 (60%)

6 (75%)

NS

Disease duration, mean (SD), years

12.4 ± 8.7

10.9 ± 10.4

NS

TCZ exposure before tapering, months (SD)

16.4 ± 8.8

20.4 ± 5.7

NS

Remission achievement delay, months (SD)

3 ± 2.4

2 ± 2.8

NS

Remission duration, months (SD)

5.6 ± 2.8

8.8 ± 7.5

NS

RF positive, n (%)

0 (0%)

7 (87.5%)

0.004

ACPA positive, n (%)

0 (0%)

7 (87.5%)

0.004

Erosive status, n (%)

3 (60%)

7(87.5%)

NS

Previous number of sDMARDs

1.8 ± 0.8

2.4 ± 1

NS

Previous number of bDMARDs

1.6 ± 1.1

1.75 ± 1.3

NS

Swollen joint count

0

0.125 ± 0.3

NS

Tender joint count

2.4 ± 4.3

3.6 ± 2.97

NS

Hyperhemia at Doppler

0 (0%)

(37.5%)

NS

Number of patients with active synovitis

3 (60%)

4(50%)

NS

Number of active synovitis

 Hands

3

11

NS

 Feet

2

3

NS

Concomitant therapy

 MTX, n (%)

3 (60%)

3 (37.5%)

NS

 LEF, n (%)

1 (20%)

2 (25%)

NS

Flare, mean (SD)

0.6 ± 0.5

2.13 ± 0.35

0.001

  1. SD standard deviation, n number, TCZ tocilizumab, RF rheumatoid factor, ACPA anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies, MTX methotrexate, LEF leflunomide, NS non-significant