Joint pain patterns* | Description of the pattern (see also table 1) | ACPA+ | RF+ | Seronegative | FDR | |||||||
Pattern A | Increased rapidly and then remained constant | 6 | 10 | 16 | 11 | |||||||
Pattern B | Gradually increased to their current level over time | 15 | 17 | 21 | 6 | |||||||
Pattern C | Come and gone increasing and decreasing though always with some symptoms | 30 | 33 | 34 | 22 | |||||||
Pattern D | Come and gone with periods without symptoms in between | 32 | 19 | 16 | 28 | |||||||
Pattern E | Own interpretation | 17 | 21 | 13 | 33 |
Data expressed as percentages. Note that the ACPA-positive group also includes RF-positive individuals, and all RF positive individuals are ACPA-negative.
*Missing data in 14 individuals.
ACPA, anticitrullinated protein antibodies; FDR, first degree relatives; RF, rheumatoid factor; SPARRA, Symptoms in Persons At Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis.