Patients had to have active disease at enrollment (before the DMARD washout period), defined as 12 or more tender joints, 10 or more swollen joints, and at least one of the following: erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) of at least 28 mm/hr, C-reactive protein(CRP) level greater than 2.0 mg/dL, or morning stiffness for at least 45 minutes.