Demographic and disease characteristics of patients at baseline of maintenance therapy
| Characteristics | LEF group | AZA group |
| (N=108) | (N=107) | |
| Age (year) | 30.8±9.1 | 33.2±10.9 |
| Female sex—no. (%) | 98 (90.7%) | 92 (86.0%) |
| Race or ethnic group—no. (%) | ||
| Han | 100% | 100% |
| Body weight (kg) | 56.2±8.3 | 55.8±7.5 |
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) | 123.8±10.4 | 122.7±10.0 |
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 77.6±7.5 | 76.6±8.4 |
| Duration of LN (months) | 12.8±28.0 | 14.7±31.0 |
| Clinical remission—no. (%) | ||
| CR | 69 (63.9%) | 77 (72.0%) |
| PR | 39 (36.1%) | 30 (28.0%) |
| Kidney biopsy class—no. of patients (%) | ||
| III or III+V | 33 (30.6%) | 29 (27.1%) |
| IV or IV+V | 67 (62.0%) | 62 (57.9%) |
| Pure V | 8 (7.4%) | 16 (15.0%) |
| Urinary protein (mg/24 hours) | 542±502 | 451±426 |
| Active urine sediment—no. of patients (%) | 5 (4.6%) | 9 (8.4%) |
| SCr (μmol/L) | 67.2±20.8 | 66.8±19.0 |
| Estimated GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 132.6±44.0 | 132.7±38.3 |
| Estimated GFR category—no. (%) | ||
| ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 | 73 (98.6%) | 75 (98.7%) |
| ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2 | 63 (85.1%) | 65 (86.7%) |
| Immunologic factors | ||
| Serum C3 (mg/dL) | 848±236 | 891±203 |
| Serum C4 (mg/dL) | 180±103 | 194±70 |
| Patients receiving drugs at baseline | ||
| Prednisone use (mg/day) | 9.9±0.8 | 9.8±0.8 |
| HCQ use—no. (%) | 89 (82.4%) | 93 (86.9%) |
| ACEI/ARB use—no. (%) | 31 (28.7%) | 26 (24.3%) |
| SLEDAI score | 2.3±2.9 | 2.1±3.0 |
ACEI, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blockers; AZA, azathioprine; BP, blood pressure; CR, complete response; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; Han, the Han nationality; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; LEF, leflunomide; LN, lupus nephritis; PR, partial response; SCr, serum creatinine; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.