CRP and rheumatoid arthritis: At study entry, all patients had very active RA as evidenced by a large number of TJC (25.1 ± 13.2) and SJC (12.8 ± 5.4), elevated ESR (95.8 ± 32.3 mm/hr) and CRP (52.3 ± 53.5 mg/L) levels.