Baseline characteristics of the 36 SLE subjects
| Age | 34±12 (19–67) |
| Women | 94.4% |
| Ethnicity | African-American 8, Asian 8, Caucasian 5, Hispanic 13, other 2 |
| Years since diagnosis (years) | 8±10 (0–35) |
| SELENA-SLEDAI score | 8±5 (4–27) |
| BILAG-2004 index score | 15±10 (1–48) |
| uPCR (>0.5 g/g) | 47.2% |
| Positive ANA ≥20 units | 97.2% |
| Positive anti-dsDNA (>301 units) | 64% |
| EC4d (net MFI) | 52±11 (8–719) |
| EC3d (net MFI) | 14±55 (<1–333) |
| ECR1 (net MFI) | 13±6 (2–24) |
| C3 levels (mg/dL) | 76±32 (20–145) |
| C4 levels (mg/dL) | 15±7 (4–44) |
| Low complement* | 72% |
| Elevated CB-CAPs | 100% |
| Anti-C1q positive (>20 units) | 64% |
Results are expressed as mean±SD (range).
*Low complement was defined as either C3 or C4 levels below the normal range established at each of the sites.
BILAG, British Isles Lupus Assessment Group; CB-CAPs, cell-bound complement activation products; MFI, mean fluorescent intensity; SELENA-SLEDAI, Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; uPCR, urinary protein to creatinine ratio.