Table 1

Demographical, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with SLE

	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.