Table 1.
Baseline characteristics at the time of renal biopsy according to the remission status within 36 months of the observation period.
| Variable a | All Patients (n = 57) | Complete Renal Remission (n = 36) | No Renal Remission (n = 21) | p-Value b |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 48 (84) | 28 (78) | 20 (95) | 0.13 |
| Age (years) | 32 (6–45) | 32 (26–45) | 34 (25–39) | 0.73 |
| sCr (mg/dl) | 1.10 (0.86–1.53) | 0.98 (0.81–1.17) | 1.67 (1.16–2.02) | 0.0001 |
| eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) | 67 (48–83) | 78 (58–85) | 40 (30–61) | <0.0001 |
| UPCR (g/g) 1 | 2.37 (1.38–4.62) | 1.81 [1.11–3.10] | 4.40 (1.99–6.42) | 0.002 |
| Hematuria (RBC/hpf), n (%) | ||||
| <5 | 13 (22.8) | 7 (19.4) | 6 (28.6) | 0.53 |
| 5–20 | 22 (38.6) | 16 (36.1) | 6 (42.9) | |
| >20 | 22 (38.6) | 13 (44.4) | 9 (28.6) | |
| Total protein (g/dL) | 5.2 (4.6–5.9) | 5.2 (4.5–6.2) | 5.2 (4.8–5.7) | 0.71 |
| Albumin (g/dL) | 2.9 ± 0.6 | 2.9 ± 0.6 | 2.8 ± 0.6 | 0.60 |
| Total cholesterol (mmol/L) 2 | 7.0 ± 2.2 | 7.1 ± 2.4 | 6.9 ± 2.0 | 0.77 |
| Triglycerides (mmol/L) 3 | 2.1 (1.6–2.7) | 2.1 (1.6–2.7) | 1.8 (1.2–2.7) | 0.71 |
| Hemoglobin (g/dL) | 11.9 ± 1.7 | 12.2 ± 1.7 | 11.5 ± 1.7 | 0.14 |
| Leukocytes (×109/L) | 7.95 ± 3.05 | 7.75 ± 3.26 | 8.30 ± 2.69 | 0.52 |
| Lymphocytes (×109/L) 4 | 1.75 ± 0.95 | 1.71 ± 0.83 | 1.82 ± 1.14 | 0.67 |
| Neutrophiles (×109/L) 4 | 5.52 ± 2.54 | 5.33 ± 2.68 | 5.82 ± 2.33 | 0.49 |
| Platelets (×109/L) | 221 (181–269) | 205 (164–248) | 243 (210–287) | 0.03 |
| NLR4 | 3.03 (1.83–5.47) | 2.58 (1.79–5.41) | 3.50 (2.04–5.47) | 0.54 |
| PLR4 | 129.7 (90.9–253.1) | 131.7 (87.9–227.4) | 119.7 (105.2–334.6) | 0.49 |
| PNR4 | 41.65 (30.05–59.70) | 38.73 (30.05–56.43) | 46.26 (31.62–59.70) | 0.57 |
| CRP (mg/L) 1 | 1.43 (0.43–2.97) | 1.61 (0.52–2.99) | 1.10 (0.35–2.65) | 0.87 |
| ESR (mm/h) 5 | 29 (21–49) | 26 (22–35) | 36 (19–57) | 0.12 |
| ANA positivity, n (%) | 56 (98.2) | 36 (100.0) | 20 (95.2) | 1.00 |
| Anti-dsDNA Ab titer (IU/mL) 6 | 285.7 (144.9–512.1) | 351.1 (178.2–560.1) | 202.8 (127.2–261.6) | 0.16 |
| Low C3, n (%) 3 | 30 (66.7) | 21 (70.0) | 9 (60.0) | 0.52 |
| Low C4, n (%) 7 | 19 (43.2) | 16 (51.6) | 3 (23.1) | 0.10 |
| MMF, n (%) | 24 (42.1) | 13 (36.1) | 11 (52.4) | 0.27 |
| CYC, n (%) | 20 (35.1) | 12 (33.3) | 8 (38.1) | 0.78 |
| CNI, n (%) | 11 (19.3) | 9 (25.0) | 2 (9.5) | 0.19 |
| HCQ, n (%) | 26 (45.6) | 17 (47.2) | 9 (42.9) | 0.79 |
| ACEI, n (%) | 25 (43.9) | 16 (44.4) | 9 (42.9) | 1.00 |
| ISN/RPS class, n (%) | ||||
| III | 12 (21.1) | 10 (27.8) | 2 (9.5) | 0.29 |
| IV/IV + V | 37 (64.9) | 21 (58.3) | 16 (76.2) | |
| V | 8 (14.0) | 5 (13.9) | 3 (14.3) | |
| Activity index 2 | 8 (6–12) | 8 (6–12) | 10 (6–14) | 0.24 |
| Chronicity index 2 | 3 (1–4) | 2 (1–4) | 4 (3–6) | 0.005 |
| Proportion of glomeruli (%) | ||||
| with cellular/fibrocellular crescents 1 | 0 (0–7) | 0 (0–3] | 0 (0–13) | 0.15 |
| with fibroid necrosis 1 | 0 (0–17) | 0 (0–14) | 7 (0–18) | 0.46 |
| Total glomerulosclerosis, n (%) | ||||
| <10% | 24 (42.1) | 18 (50.0) | 6 (28.6) | |
| ≥10% | 33 (57.9) | 18 (50.0) | 15 (71.4) | 0.17 |
| Interstitial fibrosis, n (%) | ||||
| <10% | 40 (70.1) | 30 (83.8) | 10 (47.6) | 0.008 |
| 10–25% | 16 (28.1) | 6 (16.7) | 10 (47.6) | |
| 25–50% | 1 (1.8) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (4.8) | |
| >50% | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
a Data are expressed as median (interquartile range), mean ± standard deviation, or number (proportion). b p-values were bolded for variables with statistically significant difference between the groups. Number of missing data: 1 n = 1, 2 n = 4, 3 n = 11, 4 n = 2, 5 n = 10, 6 n = 28, 7 n = 12. Abbreviations: ACEI, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors; ANA, antinuclear antibodies, anti-dsDNA Ab, anti-double stranded DNA antibody; C3, complement component 3; C4, complement component 4; CNI, calcineurin inhibitors, CRP, C-reactive protein; CYC, cyclophosphamide; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentary rate; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; ISN/RPS, The International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil; N, number; NLR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; PNR, platelets-to-neutrophil ratio; PLR, platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio; sCr, serum creatinine; RBC/hpf, number of red blood cells per high power-field; UPCR, urine protein/creatinine ratio.