Table 1 Changes of the main clinical outcomes before and after treatment (mean ± sd)

Morning stiffness (min)

0 M

92.21 ± 47.69

–

81.29 ± 35.56

–

89.97 ± 36.42

–

6 M

21.34 ± 16.10^△

< 0.001

71.27 ± 14.89^△

0.371

44.15 ± 13.99

0.021

12 M

13.09 ± 14.43

< 0.001

42.69 ± 13.56^△

0.019

25.19 ± 14.21

< 0.001

A.1.1.1.1.1.1. VAS (mm)

0 M

64.36 ± 18.29

–

63.94 ± 17.83

–

65.28 ± 17.27

–

6 M

37.90 ± 14.04^△

< 0.001

43.02 ± 16.20

0.040

40.08 ± 15.88

0.048

12 M

29.23 ± 16.13^△

< 0.001

37.02 ± 17.89^△

< 0.001

38.72 ± 17.25^△

< 0.001

A.1.1.1.1.1.2. ESR(mm/h)

0 M

49.87 ± 27.68

–

50.43 ± 34.78

–

52.25 ± 37.96

–

6 M

30.61 ± 21.56

0.022

40.25 ± 28.75^△

0.467

37.21 ± 25.47^△

0.038

12 M

23.58 ± 17.87

0.008

38.67 ± 22.87^△

0.363

36.24 ± 21.46^△

0.023

A.1.1.1.1.1.3. CRP(mg/L)

0 M

25.14 ± 22.23

–

23.67 ± 27.35

–

26.21 ± 28.38

–

6 M

13.57 ± 15.89

0.031

18.52 ± 29.51

0.077

15.39 ± 26.29

0.035

12 M

8.60 ± 12.27^△

0.029

18.78 ± 23.38^△

0.079

11.02 ± 20.12

0.019

A.1.1.1.1.1.4. DAS28

0 M

7.21 ± 1.27

–

7.17 ± 1.21

–

6.36 ± 1.45

–

6 M

4.89 ± 1.26^**

< 0.001

5.11 ± 1.33

0.036

4.27 ± 1.31

0.032

12 M

4.17 ± 1.21^**

< 0.001

4.67 ± 1.28

0.019

4.12 ± 1.27

0.021