Baseline characteristics of ASSERT and EASIC of the 86 patients contributing to the current study
| Characteristic | Baseline ASSERT (N=86) | Baseline EASIC (N=86) |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 68 (79.1%) | |
| Country | ||
| Germany | 33 (38.4%) | |
| Belgium | 20 (23.3%) | |
| The Netherlands | 21 (24.4%) | |
| UK | 9 (10.5%) | |
| Finland | 2 (2.3%) | |
| France | 1 (1.2%) | |
| Age (years) | 39.6 (10.6) | 43.9 (10.5) |
| Disease duration (years) | 9.7 (8.1) | 13.0 (8.0) |
| Treatment | ||
| Placebo | 24 (27.9%)* | 0 (0%) |
| Infliximab 5 mg/kg | 62 (72.1%)* | 86 (100%) |
| Patient global (0–10) | 7.0 (1.6) | 3.6 (2.4) |
| BASDAI (0–10) | 6.4 (1.5) | 3.2 (2.0) |
| CRP (mg/L) | 2.8 (2.6) | 0 0.9 (1.2) |
| BASFI (0–10) | 6.0 (1.7) | 3.5 (2.2) |
| BASMI (0–10) | 4.2 (1.9) | 2.2 (1.2) |
| mSASSS (0–72) | 17.8 (17.3) | – |
| ASAS 20 response | – | 68 (79.1%) |
| BASDAI 50% improvement | – | 44 (51.2%) |
| BASDAI 20% worsening | – | 1 (1.2%) |
Mean (SD mean) or number of patients (%).
*Results presented for the first 24 weeks of the ASSERT trial, after 24 weeks every patient received infliximab 5 mg/kg every 6–8 weeks.
ASSERT, Ankylosing Spondylitis Study for the Evaluation of Recombinant Infliximab Therapy; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASDAI 20% worsening, more than 20% worsening in the BASDAI between the baseline of ASSERT and baseline of EASIC; BASDAI 50% improvement, more than 50% improvement in the BASDAI between the baseline of ASSERT and baseline of EASIC; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; BASMI, Bath Ankylosing Metrology Index; CRP, C reactive protein; EASIC, European Ankylosing Spondylitis Infliximab Cohort; mSASSS, modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score, ASAS 20 response, more than 20% improvement in Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis improvement criteria between the baseline of ASSERT and the baseline of EASIC.