Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of SLE patients enrolled in the study (n = 51).
| Characteristics | n = 51 |
|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 47 (92) |
| Age, years, mean ± SD | 42.1 ± 13.0 |
| Disease duration, years, mean ± SD | 15.4 ± 11.4 |
| Past involvement | |
| Renal involvement | 22 (43) |
| Duration of CR free, years | 6.1 ± 5.2 |
| Complication of APS | 9 (18) |
| Disease activity | |
| SELENA-SLEDAI score, Median (range) | 4 (0–8) |
| Current skin involvement, % | 30 (59) |
| CLASI activity score | 3 (0–14) (n = 30) |
| CLASI damage score | 0 (0–5) (n = 30) |
| Anti-dsDNA positive, n (%)*1 | 18 (36) |
| Anti-dsDNA (IU/mL) | 5.4 (5–82.8) |
| C3 (mg/dL) | 76 (40–150) |
| C4 (mg/dL) | 13 (2–33) |
| CH50 (U/mL) | 34.1 (14–57.5) |
| Low complement, n (%)*2 | 27 (53) |
| White blood cells (/μL) | 5000 (1460–10,000) |
| Lymphocytes (/μL) | 1171 (349–3786) |
| Platelet (× 104/μL) | 21.8 (6.7–40.2) |
| Concomitant immunosuppressive treatments | |
| Prednisone | |
| n (%) | 44 (86) |
| Median dosage, mg/day (range) | 5.0 (1–10) |
| Other immunosuppressants*3 | 27 (53) |
| Tacrolimus | 15 (29) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil | 8 (16) |
| Cyclosporine A | 2 (4) |
| Azathioprine | 2 (4) |
| Mizoribine | 2 (4) |
| Methotrexate | 1 (2) |
*1Anti-dsDNA positive is defined as anti-dsDNA titer over 12 IU/mL.
*2Low complement is defined as C3, C4, and CH50 concentrations less than 68 mg/dL, less 12 mg/dL, and 30 U/mL, respectively.
*3Three patients received multiple immunosuppressants.
APS anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, NPSLE neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.