Clinical characteristics of 34 patients with SLE at the start of the study
| Age (y) | Range | 17–75 |
|---|---|---|
| Median | 36 | |
| Sex | M/F | 3/31 |
| Disease duration (y) | Range | 2–31 |
| Median | 12 | |
| Race | Whites | 30 |
| Orientals | 4 | |
| Blacks | 0 | |
| ACR criterion22 | Number | % |
| 1 Malar rash | 14 | 41 |
| 2 Discoid rash | 6 | 18 |
| 3 Photosensitivity | 16 | 47 |
| 4 Oral ulcers | 2 | 6 |
| 5 Arthritis | 25 | 74 |
| 6 Pleuritis | 13 | 38 |
| Pericarditis | 12 | 35 |
| 7 Proteinuria | 17 | 50 |
| Cellular casts | 15 | 44 |
| 8 Convulsions | 2 | 6 |
| Psychosis | 4 | 12 |
| 9 Haemolytic anaemia | 9 | 26 |
| Leucocytopenia | 19 | 56 |
| Lymphocytopenia | 14 | 41 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 18 | 53 |
| 10 Anti-DNA antibodies | 34 | 100 |
| Anti-Sm antibodies | 3 | 9 |
| 11 ANA | 34 | 100 |
The presence of the LE cell phenomenon and/or a false positive lues reaction is not included in the table as neither classification factor was routinely analysed in our follow up of SLE patients.