Table 4: Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient of muscle biopsy score with clinical and laboratory variables.

Biopsy score Correlation coefficient
Muscle power CK ESR
Total group (n=95) (n=95) (n=64)
Prior CS (n=70) (n=70) (n=44)
1. Inflammation
Total group −0.03 0.13 0.19
Prior CS -0.14 0.16 0.05
2. Vasculitis
Total group 0.06 -0.08 0.09
Prior CS 0.04 -0.17 0.04
3. Muscle
Atrophy
Total group -0.05 0.00 0.06
Prior CS -0.03 0.05 0.09
Degenerative
Total group -0.23* 0.27** -0.09
Prior CS -0.23 0.38** -0.25
Invaded non-necrotic fiber
Total group -0.08 0.27** 0.06
Prior CS -0.18 0.32** -0.25
4. Endomysial fibrosis
Total group -0.24* 0.39** -0.11
Prior CS -0.25* 0.51** -0.16
Total biopsy score
Total group -0.14 0.24* 0.05
Prior CS -0.14 0.33** -0.07

CK=creatine kinase, ESR=Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
*p<0.05, ** p<0.01
Prior CS=underwent biopsy prior using corticosteroid; After CS=underwent biopsy after using corticosteroid.