Clinical and immunological features of SLE patients at entry into study (n=27)
| Feature (n=27) | n (%) or median (IQR)* |
|---|---|
| Disease duration (years) | 7.0 (3.5, 12)* |
| ANA-positive ever | 27 (100) |
| ANA-positive at baseline visit | 23 (85.2) |
| Elevated anti-dsDNA antibody† | 7 (25.9) |
| Low C3† | 3 (11.1) |
| Low C4† | 10 (37.0) |
| Anti-cardiolipin antibody-positive† | 8 (29.6) |
| Lupus anticoagulant present | 1 (3.7) |
| Total BILAG-2004 ‘A’ scores (n) | 27 |
| Total BILAG-2004 ‘B’ scores (n) | 16 |
| Global BILAG-2004 score | 14 (12, 22)* |
| SLEDAI-2K | 6 (5,13)* |
| SLICC/ACR-DI | 1 (1,2)* |
| Oral corticosteroids | 24 (88.9) |
| Average daily corticosteroid dose (mg) | 12.5 (10, 17.5)* |
| Current immunosuppressant use | 12 (44.4) |
| Current antimalarial use | 20 (74.1) |
*Defined as positive/present at study entry unless stated.
†As per laboratory reference range.
ACR, American College of Rheumatology; ANA, antinuclear antibodies; BILAG, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Disease Activity Index; DI, Damage Index; dsDNA, double-stranded DNA; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SLEDAI-2K, SLE Disease Activity Index 2000; SLICC, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics.