Table 1

Clinical features, serological findings, and treatment of 22 SLE patients, without clinical renal disease, during the study period

Basal (n=22) n, (%) 6 month (n=22) n, (%) 12 month (n=16)1-150 n, (%) 18 month (n=20) n, (%)
Clinical
Arthritis9  (41)5  (23)3  (19)1  (5)
Malar rash1  (4.5)3  (14)1  (6)4  (20)
Raynaud9  (41)6  (27)4  (25)3  (15)
Pleuritis1  (4.5)1  (4.5)0  (0)0  (0)
Pericarditis1  (4.5)0  (0)1  (6)0  (0)
Serological
Lymphopenia1-151 7  (32)8  (36)6  (38)8  (40)
ANA21  (95)20  (91)16  (100)17  (85)
Anti-dsDNA5  (23)5  (23)4  (25)3  (15)
C3‡ 9  (41)9  (41)6  (38)6  (30)
C4‡ 8  (36)10  (45)4  (25)7  (35)
Treatment
NSAID9  (41)8  (36)7  (44)6  (30)
Prednisone12  (55)12  (55)7  (44)9  (45)
 (mean; range)(9.5; 2–20)(9.3; 2–40)(17; 2.5–45)(11; 2.5–20)
Antimalarial agents15  (68)13  (59)9  (56)12  (60)
Methotrexate0  (0)1  (4.5)1  (6)0  (0)
Azathioprine0  (0)0  (0)0  (0)1  (5)
Cyclophosphamide0  (0)0  (0)0  (0)1  (5)

  • ↵1-150 One patient with nephrotic syndrome caused by lupus nephritis is not included at this point time.

  • ↵1-151 Lymphopenia < 1500/mm3; ‡ C3 < 83 mg/dl; ‡ C4 < 15 mg/dl.