Table 1.
Clinical and serological features of patients by study group
| Characteristics | Rhupus | RA | SLE | Controls |
| Number of patients | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Median age, years (range) | 44 (25–64) | 46 (31–61) | 41 (24–66) | 41 (28–63) |
| Median age of onset, years (range) | 26 (11–61) | 40 (27–45) | 39 (18–52) | - |
| SLE criteria, n (percentage) | ||||
| Malar rash | 5 (71) | - | 7 (100) | - |
| Discoid lupus | 1 (14) | - | 1 (14) | - |
| Photosensitivity | 4 (57) | - | 5 (71) | - |
| Oral ulcers | 5 (71) | - | 5 (71) | - |
| Serositis | 3 (43) | - | 0 (0) | - |
| Renal | 2 (29) | - | 2 (29) | - |
| Neurological | 1 (14) | - | 1 (14) | - |
| Hematological | 7 (100) | - | 6 (86) | - |
| Immunological | 4 (57) | - | 5 (71) | - |
| ANA | 7 (100) | - | 7 (100) | - |
| RA criteria, n (percentage) | ||||
| Morning stiffness | 3 (43) | 5 (71) | - | - |
| Arthritis in more than three areas | 7 (100) | 7 (100) | - | - |
| Arthritis of hands | 7 (100) | 7 (100) | - | - |
| Symmetric arthritis | 7 (100) | 7 (100) | - | - |
| Rheumatoid nodules | 0 (0) | 3 (43) | - | - |
| RF | 5 (71) | 6 (86) | - | - |
| X-ray changes | 7 (100) | 7 (100) | - | - |
| Serology, n (percentage) | ||||
| Anti-CCP | 4 (57) | 6 (86) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| ANA | 7 (100) | 0 (0) | 7 (100) | 2 (29) |
| Anti-dsDNA | 4 (57) | 0 (0) | 4 (57) | 0 (0) |
| Anti-SSA | 4 (57) | 0 (0) | 3 (43) | 1 (14) |
| Anti-SSB | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 1 (14) | 0 (0) |
| Anti-Sm | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 2 (29) | 0 (0) |
| Anti-RNP | 1 (14) | 0 (0) | 2 (29) | 0 (0) |
| RF | 5 (71) | 6 (86) | 2 (29) | 1 (14) |
ANA, antinuclear antibodies; anti-CCP, antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides; anti-dsDNA, antibodies against double-stranded DNA; anti-RNP, antibodies against ribonucleoprotein; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; RF, rheumatoid factor; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SS, Sjögren's syndrome.