Characteristics of the patients with SLE
| Total (n = 137) | Adult onset (n = 96) | Childhood onset (n = 41) | Adult onset v childhood onset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Significant values in bold. | ||||
| *Mean (SEM). | ||||
| ANA, antinuclear antibodies; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus. | ||||
| Age at diagnosis (years) | 25.8 (1.2)* | 31.9 (1.2) | 11.6 (0.5) | p<0.0001 |
| Patients with pre-menarche onset | 32 (23.4%) | – | 32 (78.0%) | – |
| Duration of disease (months) | 43.5 (3.1)* | 39.6 (3.6) | 52.7 (5.8) | p = 0.054 |
| Clinical features | ||||
| Oral ulcer | 44 (32.1%) | 18 (18.8%) | 26 (63.4%) | p<0.0001 |
| Discoid rash | 29 (21.2%) | 1 (1.0%) | 28 (68.3%) | p<0.0001 |
| Malar rash | 71 (51.8%) | 41 (42.7%) | 30 (73.2%) | p = 0.001 |
| Photosensitivity | 19 (13.9%) | 7 (7.3%) | 12 (29.3%) | p = 0.002 |
| Arthritis | 78 (56.9%) | 53 (55.2%) | 25 (61.0%) | p = 0.58 |
| Serositis | 36 (26.3%) | 28 (29.2%) | 8 (19.5%) | p = 0.29 |
| Neuropsychiatric SLE | 7 (5.1%) | 3 (3.1%) | 4 (9.8%) | p = 0.56 |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| Leucopenia | 70 (51.1%) | 51 (53.1%) | 19 (46.3%) | p = 0.29 |
| Haemolytic anaemia | 15 (10.9%) | 13 (13.5%) | 2 (4.9%) | p = 0.23 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 44 (32.1%) | 30 (31.3%) | 14 (34.1%) | p = 0.44 |
| Proteinuria | 73 (53.2%) | 42 (43.8%) | 31 (75.6%) | p = 0.001 |
| Proliferative lupus nephritis | 46 (33.8%) | 21 (21.9%) | 25 (61.0%) | p = 0.001 |
| ANA | 137 (100%) | 96 (100%) | 41 (100%) | p = 1.00 |
| Anti-dsDNA | 122 (89.1%) | 81 (84.4%) | 41 (100%) | p = 0.005 |
| Anti-sm | 20 (14.6%) | 12 (12.5%) | 8 (19.5%) | p = 0.30 |
| Anti-phospholipid | 44 (32.1%) | 29 (30.2%) | 15 (36.6%) | p = 0.55 |