We observed a high proportion (15%) of deceased non-responders among the cases that in part is explained by advanced stage at diagnosis.
This result was surprising, given previous reports of migratory deficits of CD34pos CPC or cultured endothelial progenitor cells, associated with impaired NO generation, and is likely to be explained by more advanced stages of vascular disease in those studies [28], [29].
The null results of HEART2D may be explained by the advanced state of CVD in the patients studied.
A subsequent study has suggested that the poor survival rates reported for the UK can, in large part, be explained by more advanced stage at presentation.
The even higher agreement (87% vs 77%) between CT and MRI in a study of nine RA wrist joints by Perry and colleagues [ 12] may partly be explained by more advanced joint destructions in their cohort.
This can not readily be explained by more advanced disease at baseline, higher HIV-1 plasma viral loads, or different HSV-2 seroprevalence - an infection known to potentially enhance HIV-1 replication and disease progression [ 37].
The ill repute of the diffuse gastric carcinoma may therefore be explained by the advanced stage of that tumour at the time of treatment as compared to the intestinal-type tumour.
This early mortality could be explained by the advanced stage of infection and the low CD4 cell count of patients at enrollment, due to late presentation of patients [ 46].
A recent EuroSIDA study by Grint et al found that patients with chronic HCV infection had a 26% higher risk of antiretroviral drug discontinuation compared with patients with resolved HCV infection (IRR 1.26; 95% CI 1.06 1.50), but that the effect seems to be explained by more advanced liver fibrosis (as measured by elevated HA levels) in patient with chronic infection [ 3].
This result could be explained by the advanced difference of joint destruction in RA patients between score 3 (reduction of the joint space width >50%) compared with score 2 (reduction of the joint space width <50%) quantified by the Sharp Score for joint space narrowing, respectively.
