Asymptomatic (n=30) | Symptomatic (n=6) | p Value | |
---|---|---|---|
Age, years, median (IQR) | 41.5 (35–52) | 45 (34–58) | 0.54 |
Gender (female), n (%) | 28 (93.3) | 6 (100.0) | 0.51 |
Disease duration, years, median (IQR) | 9 (6–13) | 12.5 (10–17) | 0.29 |
Nr ACR criteria, median (IQR) | 6 (4–7) | 6.5 (6–7) | 0.30 |
Auto-antibodies | |||
ANA positivity, n (%) | 30 (100.0) | 6 (100.0) | – |
RF positivity, n (%) | 2 (6.7) | 1 (16.7) | 0.43 |
Anti-CCP positivity, n (%) | 1 (3.3) | 0 (0) | 1.00 |
Disease activity markers | |||
Anti-dsDNA positivity, n (%) | 13 (43.3) | 4 (66.7) | 0.39 |
C3 (decreased), n (%) | 12 (40.0) | 2 (33.3) | 1.00 |
C4 (decreased), n (%) | 4 (13.3) | 0 (0) | 1.00 |
ESR (increased), n (%) | 15 (50.0) | 2 (33.3) | 0.66 |
Disease activity and organ damage scores | |||
SLEDAI, median (IQR) | 2 (0–4) | 2 (0–8) | 0.96 |
SLICC, median (IQR) | 0 (0–1) | 0.5 (0–1) | 0.71 |
Cumulative medication, n (%) | |||
Hydroxychloroquine | 30 (100.0) | 6 (100.0) | – |
Prednisolone | 23 (76.7) | 4 (66.7) | 0.63 |
Azathioprine | 16 (53.3) | 4 (66.7) | 0.67 |
Mycophenolate mofetil | 6 (20.0) | 1 (16.7) | 1.00 |
Cyclophosphamide | 6 (20.0) | 0 (0) | 0.56 |
Rituximab | 1 (3.3) | 0 (0) | 1.00 |
Current medication, n (%) | |||
Hydroxychloroquine | 24 (80.0) | 6 (100.0) | 0.56 |
Prednisolone | 19 (63.3) | 4 (66.7) | 1.00 |
Azathioprine | 12 (40.0) | 3 (50.0) | 0.67 |
Mycophenolate mofetil | 5 (16.7) | 1 (16.7) | 1.00 |
Methotrexate | 2 (6.7) | 2 (33.3) | 0.12 |
Statistical tests: Wilcoxon rank sum test, χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test.
ANA, anti-nuclear antibodies; Anti-CCP, anti-citrullinated protein antibody; C3, C3 complement fraction; C4, C4 complement fraction; ds-DNA, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; RF, rheumatoid factor antibody; SLEDAI, SLE Disease Activity Index; SLICC, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics.