Characteristics of all patients with SLE at baseline. Results are mean ± SD or n (%).
| Characteristic | Patients, n = 40 |
|---|---|
| Female | 33 (82.5) |
| Age, yrs | 29.7 ± 10.1 |
| Duration of SLE, yrs | 3.5 ± 2.8 |
| SLAM | 9.6 ± 3.6 (5–21) |
| SLICC | 0.3 ± 0.6 (0.0–2.0) |
| Systolic blood pressure > 140 mm Hg | 7 (17.5) |
| Diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg | 8 (20) |
| Serum creatinine, mg/dl | 0.9 ± 0.3 (0.5–2.1) |
| 24 h urinary protein, mg | 3321 ± 2531 |
| Hemoglobin, mg/dl | 10.9 ± 1.6 |
| C3, mg/dl (90–180) | 56.2 ± 20.8 |
| Anti-dsDNA, IU/ml (< 80) | 243 ± 260 |
| WHO class nephritis, n = 38 | |
| No. patients (%) | |
| Class III | 17 (43.6) |
| Class IV | 19 (48.7) |
| Class V | 2 (5.1) |
| Prednisone dosage, mg/day | 23.9 ± 23.8 |
| Hydroxychloroquine treatment | 15 (37.5) |
SLAM: Systemic Lupus Activity Measure; SLICC: Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index; WHO: World Health Organization; SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus.