Demographics of enrolled subjects
| Characteristics | SLE | HC | P value |
| N=13 | N=9 | ||
| Female, n (%) | 12 (92.3) | 8 (88.9) | 1.000 |
| Age at diagnosis of SLE, years, mean±SD | 45.9±10.7 | 38.3±14.5 | 0.182 |
| Immunological profiles | |||
| ANA titre >1:80, n (%) | 13 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Anti-SSA/Ro positive, n (%) | 8 (61.5) | – | – |
| Anti-SSB/La positive, n (%) | 2 (15.4) | – | – |
| Anti-Smith positive, n (%) | 4 (30.8) | – | – |
| Anti-RNP positive, n (%) | 4 (30.8) | – | – |
| Anti-dsDNA positive, n (%) | 11 (84.6) | – | – |
| Clinical manifestations | |||
| Haematological disorder, n (%) | 11 (84.6) | – | – |
| Kidney involvement, n (%) | 5 (38.5) | – | – |
| CNS involvement, n (%) | 2 (15.4) | – | – |
| Psychosis, n (%) | 1 (7.7) | – | – |
| Serositis, n (%) | 2 (15.4) | – | – |
| Joint involvement, n (%) | 10 (76.9) | – | – |
| Skin involvement, n (%) | 11 (84.6) | – | – |
| SLEDAI-2K score, median (range) | 8 (6–30) | – | – |
CNS, central nervous system; dsDNA, double-stranded DNA; HC, healthy control; RNP, ribonucleoprotein; SLEDAI-2K, SLE Disease Activity Index 2000; SSA/Ro, Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A; SSB/La, lupus La protein.