Table 1 Baseline characteristics (demographic, clinical, laboratory, ultrasonographic, and pre-study medications) of both groups

43.5 ± 7.4

43.8 ± 7.2

0.19

10(50):10(50)

9 (45):11 (55)

0.75

3.1 ± 1.6

3.0 ± 1.4

0.95

101.2 ± 76.2

99.6 ± 73.1

0.65

7.04 ± 8.02

6.76 ± 7.47

0.16

52.2 ± 19.0

52.0 ± 16.7

0.78

6.3 ± 2.9

6.2 ± 3.1

0.64

9.8 ± 9.4

10.2 ± 10.6

0.07

7.3 ± 7.9

7.3 ± 8.2

0.98

68.9 ± 22.7

68.5 ± 26.5

0.19

1.8 ± 0.8

1.9 ± 0.8

0.41

0.9 ± 0.8

0.9 ± 0.8

1.00

Pre-study medications, n (%)

Analgesics^#

15 (75)

14 (70)

0.72

Steroid⁺

12 (60)

13 (65)

0.74

DMARDs^*

9 (45)

11 (55)

0.52