Results from pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis ORs (and 95% CI) for statistically significant outcomes
| Comparisons | Direct drug comparisons/participants (n/N) | Pairwise meta-analysis | Network meta-analysis | |
| Adverse events-related withdraw | ||||
| AZA versus | MMF | 3/572 | 2.13 (1.30 to 3.47) | 2.08 (1.29 to 3.36) |
| CYC | 3.04 (1.44 to 6.42) | |||
| TAC | 3.63 (1.05 to 12.61) | |||
| CSA versus | CYC | 3.28 (1.04 to 10.35) | ||
| Adverse events | ||||
| TAC versuss | CYC | 1/40 | 0.03 (0.00 to 0.56) | |
| AZA versus | GC | 1/28 | 0.06 (0.01 to 0.61) | |
| Chloroquine versus | MTX | 1/37 | 0.09 (0.02 to 0.44) | 0.09 (0.02 to 0.44) |
| Placebo | 0.16 (0.03 to 0.96) | |||
| RTX | 0.10 (0.02 to 0.68) | |||
| LD belimumab | 0.15 (0.02 to 0.92) | |||
| MD belimumab | 0.08 (0.01 to 0.62) | |||
| HD belimumab | 0.16 (0.03 to 0.98) | |||
| Serious adverse events | ||||
| SC belimumab versus | Placebo | 1/836 | 0.65 (0.43 to 0.99) | 0.65 (0.43 to 0.99) |
| LD belimumab | 0.57 (0.36 to 0.91) | |||
| Serious infection | ||||
| TAC versus | CYC | 2/113 | 0.23 (0.06 to 0.91) | 0.32 (0.12 to 0.83) |
| AZA | 0.34 (0.12 to 0.96) | |||
| MMF+TAC | 0.16 (0.04 to 0.62) | |||
| CYC-AZA | 0.22 (0.05 to 0.95) | |||
| Serious gastrointestinal events | ||||
| RTX versus | AZA | 0.04 (0.00 to 0.49) | ||
| MMF | 0.09 (0.01 to 0.70) | |||
| CSA | 0.02 (0.00 to 0.26) | |||
| Placebo versus | AZA | 0.07 (0.01 to 0.60) | ||
| MMF | 2/127 | 0.10 (0.02 to 0.57) | 0.15 (0.03 to 0.80) | |
| CSA | 0.03 (0.00 to 0.33) | |||
| Serious leucopenia | ||||
| MMF versus | CYC | 2/87 | 0.14 (0.03 to 0.63) | 0.12 (0.03 to 0.49) |
| AZA | 2/226 | 0.19 (0.04 to 0.86) | 0.22 (0.05 to 0.91) | |
| TAC versus | CYC | 0.06 (0.01 to 0.29) | ||
| AZA | 1/70 | 0.11 (0.03 to 0.42) | 0.11 (0.03 to 0.39) | |
| Leucopenia | ||||
| AZA versus | MMF | 2/345 | 7.68 (1.94 to 30.40) | 5.81 (2.10 to 16.06) |
| TAC | 1/70 | 9.25 (2.39 to 35.80) | 7.74 (2.31 to 25.92) | |
| CYC | 3.20 (1.13 to 9.06) | |||
| GC | 12.30 (1.35 to 112.26) | |||
| CSA | 2/158 | 4.00 (1.85 to 8.33) | 4.55 (2.22 to 9.09) | |
| MMF+TAC | 15.51 (2.79 to 86.12) | |||
| CYC versus | MMF+TAC | 4.84 (1.24 to 18.93) | ||
| MMF | 1.81 (1.05 to 3.14) | |||
| Ovarian failure | ||||
| CYC versus | AZA | 1/39 | 15.00 (3.17 to 71.00) | |
| GC versus | CYC | 3/149 | 0.12 (0.03 to 0.46) | 0.13 (0.02 to 0.71) |
| CYC+GC | 1/55 | 0.11 (0.02 to 0.54) | 0.11 (0.01 to 0.95) | |
| CYC-AZA | 0.07 (0.01 to 0.92) | |||
| Menstrual disorder | ||||
| CYC versus | MMF+TAC | 2/402 | 3.94 (1.07 to 14.50) | 3.94 (1.07 to 14.49) |
| MMF | 2.15 (1.00 to 4.60) | |||
| New-onset hypertension | ||||
| AZA versus | GC | 1/28 | 0.10 (0.01 to 0.93) | |
| CSA versus | GC | 1/27 | 84.14 (3.90 to 1814.89) | |
| HD belimumab versus | Placebo | 1/577 | 0.53 (0.29 to 0.99) | |
+, combined with; AZA, azathioprine; CSA, cyclosporine; CYC, cyclophosphamide; CYC-AZA, CYC followed by AZA; GC, glucocorticoid; HD, high dose; IV, intravenous infusion; LD, low dose; MD, moderate dose; MMF, mycophenolate mofetil; MTX, methotrexate; RTX, rituximab; SC, subcutaneous; TAC, tacrolimus.