Variables and cut-off values

For MVD and pMVD, the three HPFs with highest number of vessels were selected for further analysis. At baseline, four patients had less than three HPFs for evaluation of MVD and pMVD, and were therefore excluded, leaving 128 patients, 64 in each treatment arm, for further analyses. Baseline MVD and pMVD were dichotomized by the median value. Cut-off by the upper quartile was also explored, but gave somewhat weaker results (data not shown). For MVD and pMVD at week 12, the baseline median values were used as cut-off values. Vascular proliferation Index (VPI), the ratio between the number of microvessels containing proliferating endothelial cells and the total number of Factor-VIII positive microvessels (pMVD/MVD), given as a percentage, was also analysed but gave somewhat weaker results (data not shown). The average value of all HPFs, and the one HPF with the highest vessel count for MVD, pMVD, and VPI, were also examined, but the results were similar or weaker as for the maximum of three HPFs (data not shown).