BAFF gene expression and same-day SLE activity: percentage of patients in each of the BAFF categories (low, medium, high) that experience markers of disease activity on the day BAFF gene expression was measured
| Variable | 1st Tertial (%, n=91) | 2nd Tertial (%,n=92) | 3rd Tertial (%,n=92) | p Value | Adjusted p value, age, ethnicity and sex |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGA >1 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 0.018 | 0.25 |
| SELENA-SLEDAI ≥2 | 40 | 59 | 74 | <0.0001 | 0.0002 |
| Urine protein:creatinine ratio >0.5 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 0.0041 | 0.23 |
| Anti-dsDNA | 10 | 22 | 35 | 0.0003 | 0.0004 |
| C3<79 mg/dL | 7 | 6 | 22 | 0.0005 | 0.0012 |
| C4<12 mg/dL | 4 | 8 | 18 | 0.0085 | 0.0084 |
| ESR >20 mm | 38 | 50 | 65 | 0.0012 | 0.0092 |
BAFF, B cell activating factor; PGA, physician global assessment; SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; SELENA, Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment.