Flare-free duration after GC discontinuation, flare ratio within 52 weeks after GC discontinuation, complement/anti-dsDNA antibody level and disease activity on the day of glucocorticoid discontinuation in both patient groups
| SLE without prior severe organ involvement (n=24) | SLE with prior severe organ involvement (n=49) | P value | |
| Flare-free duration after GC discontinuation (days) | 385(304, 2345) | 322(280, 1169) | 0.33 |
| Flare rate within 52 weeks after GC discontinuation* | 4 (18.2) | 8 (16.7) | 1.0 |
| C3 (mg/dL) | 90.00(81.00, 102.50) | 82.50(67.75, 97.25) | 0.05 |
| C4 (mg/dL) | 20.00(14.50, 27.50) | 18.00(13.50, 20.00) | 0.03 |
| Anti-dsDNA antibody (IU/mL) | 3.50(1.50, 5.25) | 6.00(3.00, 14.50) | 0.04 |
| GC dosage (mg/day) † | 0.00(0.00, 0.00) | 0.00(0.00, 0.00) | N/A |
| SELENA-SLEDAI | 0.00(0.00, 0.00) | 0.00(0.00, 2.00) | 0.05 |
| LLDAS achievement ratio | 23 (95.8) | 46 (93.9) | 1 |
Values are expressed as number (%) or median (IQR)
*We excluded three patients (one patient with prior severe organ involvement and two patients without prior severe organ involvement) from the assessment of flare rate within 52 weeks after glucocorticoid discontinuation because of incomplete follow-up.
†Prednisolone equivalent (mg/day)
dsDNA, double stranded DNA ; GC, glucocorticoid; LLDAS, Lupus Low Disease Activity State; N/A, not applicable; SELENA-SLEDAI, Safety of Estrogen in Lupus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index.