Table 1.
Clinical characteristics of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
| Clinical characteristic | All SLE (n=38) | LN (n=17)* | Non-LN (n=21) |
| Sex, male/female | 2/36 | 1/16 | 1/20 |
| Age, year | 34.51±9.99 | 33.0±10.03 | 36.0±10.75 |
| SLE disease duration, year | 8.32±4.99 | 7.33±5.04† | 9.25±5.22 |
| History of diabetes‡ | 5 (13.16%) | 3 (17.65%) | 2 (9.52%) |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 23.97±3.91 | 22.93±3.25 | 24.47±4.44 |
| Blood pressure, mean (SD), mm Hg | |||
| Systolic | 121.32±15.33 | 123.4±14.0 | 119.68±16.50 |
| Diastolic | 82.59±9.63 | 83.60±8.76 | 81.79±10.43 |
| SLEDAI, mean±SD | 4.24±2.62 | 5.06±2.46 | 2.62±1.94 |
| SLEDAI score ≥6 | 12 (31.58%) | 11 (64.71%) | 1 (4.76%) |
| Proteinuria ≥1.5 g/24 hours | 11 (28.95%) | 11 (64.71%) | |
| 24 hours urine protein (g） | 1.7 (1.24, 2.95) | ||
| Haemoglobin | 120.24±20.79 | 114.29±21.0 | 125.3±19.73 |
| ALT | 28.43±13.67 | 24.43±12.01 | 30.71±14.80 |
| Serum creatinine | 66.74±26.28 | 73.81±35.14 | 61.71±15.55 |
| eGFR, mL/min/1.73 m2 (EPI) | 118.40±27.93 | 111.66±33.70 | 123.86±21.57 |
| eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m2, n (%) | 5 (13.16%) | 4 (23.53%) | 1 (4.76%) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | 25.03±24.0 | 28.18±29.00 | 25.10±19.36 |
| C reactive protein, mg/L | 6.20±12.13 | 3.18±1.80 | 8.35±15.60 |
| Anti-dsDNA, positive | 24 (63.16%) | 11 (64.71%) | 13 (61.90%) |
| C3 concentration (g/L） | 0.86±0.31 | 0.88±0.30 | 0.84±0.32 |
| C3 concentration <0.9 g/L | 21 (55.26%) | 9 (52.94%) | 12 (57.14%) |
| C4 concentration (g/L) | 0.17±0.11 | 0.20±0.10 | 0.15±0.11 |
| C4 concentration <0.1 g/L | 11 (28.95%) | 3 (17.65%) | 8 (38.10%) |
| Treatment | |||
| Prednisone (mg/day） | 14.21±7.36 | 16.32±7.13 | 12.50±7.25 |
| Prednisone dosage ≥20 mg/day, n (%) | 9 (23.68%) | 6 (35.29%) | 3 (13.64%) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 33 (86.84%) | 15 (88.24%) | 18 (85.71%) |
| RAASis | 9 (23.68%) | 8 (47.06%) | 1 (4.76%) |
| Other antihypertensive drugs | 11 (28.95%) | 2 (11.76%) | 9 (42.86%) |
| Immunosuppressive drugs | |||
| Mycophenolate | 10 (26.32%) | 6 (35.29%) | 4 (19.05%) |
| Azathioprine | 2 (5.26%) | 0 | 2 (9.52%) |
| Thalidomide | 4 (10.53%) | 0 | 4 (19.05%) |
| Cyclophosphamide | 4 (10.53%) | 3 (17.65%) | 1 (4.76%) |
| Tacrolimus or ciclosporin | 3 (7.89%) | 2 (11.76%) | 1 (4.76%) |
| Sirolimus | 1 (2.63%) | 0 | 1 (4.76%) |
| Rituximab | 1 (2.63%) | 0 | 1 (4.76%) |
*13 (76.47%) patients with renal biopsy and ISN/RPS 2003 class II in 1 (5.88%), III/IV in 4 (23.53%), III/IV+V in 3 (17.65%), V in 5 (29.41%) individuals. The cumulative number of immunosuppressants previously exposed among 17 patients with LN was 4 (IQR 2, 5).
†Disease duration of LN was 2.7 (2, 6.2) years.
‡Duration of diabetes was 0.5 (0.28, 3.61) years.
ALT, alanine transaminase; dsDNA, double-stranded DNA; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; LN, lupus nephritis; RAASis, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.