Demographics and baseline disease characteristics. Values are mean ± SD or median (IQR) unless otherwise specified.
| Characteristics | MMF | IVC | AZA | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic | ||||
| Age, yrs | 30.2 ± 10.5 | 30.9 ± 9.5 | 31.2 ± 10.0 | 0.890 |
| Female, n (%) | 54 (85.7) | 58 (87.9) | 33 (91.7) | 0.683 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 24.9 ± 5.4 | 24.3 ± 4.1 | 25.1± 4.4 | 0.639 |
| Socioeconomic status, n (%) | ||||
| Low income | 25 (39.7) | 41 (62.1) | 16 (44.4) | 0.030 |
| Intermediate income | 34 (54.0) | 24 (36.4) | 19 (52.8) | 0.095 |
| Health insurance | 4 (6.3) | 1 (1.5) | 1 (2.8) | 0.325 |
| History | ||||
| Time SLE diagnosis to symptoms, mos | 23 (0–73) | 26 (0–59) | 27.5 (1.3–68) | 0.629 |
| Time symptoms to biopsy, mos | 4 (2–13) | 5.5 (1.8–16.3) | 6 (2–12.8) | 0.528 |
| Previous renal activity, n (%) | 12 (19) | 13 (19.7) | 10 (27.8) | 0.550 |
| Clinical presentation | ||||
| Glomerular syndrome, n (%) | ||||
| RPGN | 1 (1.6) | 6 (9.3) | 2 (5.6) | 0.172 |
| Nephrotic | 33 (52.4) | 28 (42.4) | 10 (27.8) | 0.059 |
| Nephritic | 9 (14.3) | 17 (25.8) | 3 (8.3) | 0.060 |
| AUA | 20 (31.7) | 14 (21.8) | 19 (52.8) | 0.005 |
| CKD | 0 (0) | 1 (1.5) | 2 (5.6) | 0.134 |
| MAP, mmHg | 96 ± 14 | 98 ± 15 | 94 ± 16 | 0.519 |
| Creatinine, mg/dl | 1.1 ± 0.6 | 1.4 ± 1.0 | 1.2 ± 0.9 | 0.234 |
| eGRF, ml/min/1.73 m2, n (%) | 87.0 ± 35 | 72.0 ± 40 | 84.8 ± 41 | 0.071 |
| ≥ 90 | 30 (47.6) | 25 (37.9) | 18 (50.0) | — |
| ≥ 60 to < 90 | 17 (26.9) | 11 (17.2) | 5 (13.9) | — |
| ≥ 30 to < 60 | 13 (20.6) | 19 (28.8) | 8 (22.2) | — |
| < 30 | 3 (4.8) | 11 (16.7) | 5 (13.9) | — |
| Proteinuria, g/g | 4.3 ± 3.2 | 5.3 ± 3.5 | 2.7 ± 2.0 | 0.004 |
| Anti-dsDNA, IU/ml | 318 ± 467 | 499 ± 800 | 191 ± 295 | 0.553 |
| C3, × inferior limit | 0.84 ± 0.4 | 0.84 ± 0.4 | 0.99 ± 0.5 | 0.250 |
| C4, g/l | 11.2 ± 7 | 11.4 ± 19 | 11.8 ± 6 | 0.980 |
| Histopathology | ||||
| ISN/RPS LN class, n (%) | ||||
| Class III | 3 (4.7) | 6 (9.1) | 3 (8.3) | 0.615 |
| Class IV | 8 (12.7) | 13 (19.7) | 5 (13.9) | 0.519 |
| Class V | 4 (6.3) | 5 (7.6) | 6 (16.7) | 0.196 |
| Class III + V | 16 (25.4) | 7 (10.6) | 12 (33.3) | 0.016 |
| Class IV + V | 32 (50.8) | 35 (53.0) | 10 (27.8) | 0.036 |
| Activity score | 5.5 ± 3.3 | 7.9 ± 4.3 | 3.1 ± 2.2 | 0.234 |
| Chronicity score | 4.3 ± 2.3 | 4.1 ± 2.0 | 4.0 ± 2.3 | 0.715 |
| Interstitial fibrosis, % | 21 ± 18 | 19 ± 16 | 19 ± 19 | 0.825 |
| Tubular atrophy, % | 21 ± 19 | 19 ± 17 | 19 ± 19 | 0.902 |
| No vascular lesions, n (%) | 31 (49.2) | 38 (57.6) | 20 (55.6) | 0.712 |
| Arteriosclerosis, n (%) | 31 (49.2) | 27 (40.9) | 15 (41.7) | 0.681 |
| TMA, n (%) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (1.5) | 1 (2.8) | 0.890 |
| Treatment | ||||
| Cumulative dose, g/m2 BSA | — | 4.25 ± 1.5 | — | — |
| MMF ≥ 2 g/day, mos | 13 (8–23) | — | — | — |
| AZA, mg/kg/day | — | — | 1.99 ± 0.4 | — |
| Mos to PRED, < 20 mg | 5 (3–6) | 4 (3–6) | 6 (3–8) | 0.029 |
MMF: mycophenolate mofetil; IVC: intravenous cyclophosphamide; AZA: azathioprine; BMI: body mass index; SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; RPGN: rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis; AUA: asymptomatic urinary abnormalities; CKD: chronic kidney disease; MAP: median arterial pressure; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate (CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration equation); C3: complement factor 3; C4: complement factor 4; ISN/RPS LN: International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society lupus nephritis classification; TMA: thrombotic microangiopathy; BSA: body surface area; PRED: prednisone.