YKL-40 was associated with disease activity and inflammation during intensive treatment with DMARDs.

<p>The figure shows quadratic relationships of YKL-40 with the disease activity measured as DAS28 (A) and with the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 (B) during the 26 weeks of treatment. The patients were treated for the first four weeks with a combination of sulphasalazine, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and low dose prednisolone, and thereafter randomized to receive either placebo infusions or infliximab infusions added to the treatment for another 22 weeks. Measurements were carried out at weeks 0, 4, 10, 18, and 26 during the treatment and area under the curve analysis over time (AUC_{0-26 weeks}) adjusted for age, gender and RF positivity was used. Gray-shaded areas represent 95% confidence intervals around the mean. YKL-40 AUC_{0-26 weeks} showed a statistically significant correlation to DAS28 AUC_{0-26 weeks} and IL-6 AUC_{0-26 weeks}.</p

CONSORT flow diagram for the NEO-RACo study.

<p>CONSORT flow diagram for the NEO-RACo study.</p

YKL-40 levels decreased during the intensive anti-rheumatic treatment with a combination of csDMARDs.

<p>The figure shows the mean change in plasma YKL-40 levels in 88 patients in the NEO-RACo -study treated with a combination of sulphasalazine, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and low dose prednisolone for the first four weeks, and thereafter randomized to receive either placebo infusions (Fin-RACo + Pla) or infliximab infusions (Fin-RACo + INFL) added on the csDMARD combination for another 22 weeks. YKL-40 levels decreased significantly (p<0.001) during the first four weeks of treatment with csDMARDs; when infliximab (or placebo) was added to the treatment there was a minor further decrease (groups combined, p = 0.031) but no difference between placebo and infliximab treatment groups was found. The change is presented as ng/ml, mean ± 95% CI, n = 88.</p

Generalized estimating equations models for the effect of YKL40, time and interaction in measures of disease activity from baseline to 26 weeks.

<p>Generalized estimating equations models for the effect of YKL40, time and interaction in measures of disease activity from baseline to 26 weeks.</p

The baseline characteristics of the patients.

<p>The baseline characteristics of the patients.</p

YKL-40 was associated with disease activity, IL-6 and MMP-3 in the DMARD-naïve RA patients.

<p>The figure shows scatter plots of YKL-40 levels with disease activity measured as DAS28 (A), tender joint count (B), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (C), IL-6 (D), and MMP-3 (E) at the baseline. Correlation coefficients were calculated by the Spearman method. YKL-40 showed positive correlation to DAS28, tender joint count, ESR, IL-6 and MMP-3 at the baseline.</p