Table 1.
Demographic, pathophysiological and treatment characterization of SLE patients
| Parameters | Inactive SLE (SLEDAI ≤ 3) | Active SLE (SLEDAI > 3) | Pvaluea |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total numbers (n) |
17 |
24 |
N/Ab |
|
Age at study (years) |
|
|
|
| Median |
35 |
36 |
0.474 |
| Range |
21-62 |
25-50 |
|
|
Sex (n) |
|
|
|
| Female |
15 |
22 |
N/A |
| Male |
2 |
2 |
N/A |
|
Duration of disease (years) |
|
|
|
| Median |
8 |
8 |
0.577 |
| Range |
1-22 |
1-27 |
|
|
Clinical parameters (mean ± SD) |
|
|
|
| White Blood Cells (x109/L) |
5.6 ± 1.8 |
4.9 ± 1.8 |
0.218 |
|
Clinical signs (n) |
|
|
|
| Muco-cutaneous |
11 |
13 |
N/A |
| Haematological |
8 |
12 |
N/A |
| Neurological/Psychiatric |
- |
5 |
N/A |
| Serositis |
- |
6 |
N/A |
| Renal |
6 |
20 |
N/A |
| Joint |
12 |
14 |
N/A |
|
SLE activity (mean ± SD [range]) |
|
|
|
| SLEDAI score |
0.4 ± 0.2 [0-2] |
9.1 ± 3.8 [4-18]*** |
<0.0001 |
|
B-cell subsets (mean ± SEM [range], x106/L) |
|
|
|
| Total CD19+ B cells |
554.2 ± 121.9 [54-2077] |
319.3 ± 73.9 [6-1303] |
0.0585 |
| CD27- naive B cells |
398.6 ± 104.1 [17.9-1757] |
217.1 ± 62.1 [0.7-1205]* |
0.0403 |
| Overall CD27+ B cells |
146.2 ± 22.7 [35.1-323.2] |
96.6 ± 16.8 [5.3-292.8] |
0.0585 |
| CD27+ memory B cells |
127.5 ± 20.1 [30.3-273.6] |
82.8 ± 15.2 [1.9-279.3] |
0.0534 |
| CD27high plasma B cells |
19 ± 3.3 [4.9-49.6] |
13.9 ± 2.6 [0.9-44.2] |
0.0879 |
|
Treatment (n) |
|
|
|
| None |
4 |
1 |
N/A |
| Prednisolone |
5 |
20 |
N/A |
| Azathioprine |
8 |
19 |
N/A |
| Methotrexate |
2 |
1 |
N/A |
| Hydroxychloroquine |
6 |
7 |
N/A |
| Mycophenolate Mofetil |
2 |
3 |
N/A |
| Cyclophosphamide |
- |
2 |
N/A |
| Leflunomide | - | 1 | N/A |
aMann-Whitney U-test; bN/Ab: Not Applicable.