The study was a 12-week, open-label trial of anti-TNF therapy in 20 consecutive patients (Group 1). Another 20 consecutive patients with active disease whom have met the exclusion criteria, or were unwilling to start anti-TNF therapy for fear of toxicity would be recruited as control patients (Group 2). 20 healthy controls were recruited for comparison of the metabolic risk factors (Group 3). Study visits for groups 1 and 2 were conducted at baseline, weeks 2 and 6, and then week 12.