Clinical and histological characteristics at Lupus Nephritis diagnosis. Legend: SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus, n.: number
| Clinical and histological characteristics at Lupus Nephritis diagnosis | All 53 patients | 43 Patients who did not develop renal flare | 10 Patients who developed renal flare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male sex n. (%) | 8 (15.09) | 6 (13.95) | 2 (20) |
| Age at SLE diagnosis (years) | 23 (19–40) | 24 (18.5–40.5) | 23 (20.75–29) |
| Age at lupus nephritis diagnosis (years) | 32 (24–40) | 33 (24–41) | 29 (24–37.25) |
| Duration of SLE at start of the study | 101 (13.88–221.38) | 84.11 (7.25–226.17) | 121.05 (102.41- 182–32 |
| Duration of lupus nephritis at start of the study | 6.88 (1.09–94.31) | 6.15 (1.15–87.58) | 71.92 (12.01–93.01) |
| Class III n. (%), Class IV n. (%), Class V n. (%), Class V+III n. (%), Class V+IV n. (%) | 2 (3.7), 25 (47.2), 4 (7.5), 8 (15), 10 (18.8) | 1 (2.32), 21 (48.83), 3 (6.97), 6 (13.95), 8 (18.6) | 1 (10), 4 (40), 1 (10), 2 (20), 2 (20) |
| Activity Index | 8 (4.25–13) | 8 (4.25–13.75) | 9 (5.75–12.25) |
| Chronicity index | 2 (1–3) | 2 (1–3) | 3 (1.75–3.25) |
| Follow-up at last observation | 62.5 (45.63–78.62) | 59.83 (40.51–74.85) | 79.24 (64.34–87.77 |
| Data at start of the study | |||
| At lupus nephritis diagnosis/at a flare of lupus nephritis | 36/17 | 31/12 | 5/5 |
| Serum creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.9 (0.67–1.15) | 0.85 (0.66–1.19) | 0.96 (0.88–1.07) |
| Proteinuria (g/24 h) | 2.25 (1.28–4.15) | 2.48 (1.37–4.25) | 1.65 (1.1–2.95) |
| Red Blood cells/ul | 3940 (3500–4480) | 3940 (3565–4480) | 4260 (3217.5–4455) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mg/dL) | 54 (31.5–76.5) | 57 (42–75) | 39 (25.25–71.25) |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dL) | 0.1 (0.06–0.81) | 0.1 (0.06–0.72) | 0.5 (0.05–1.02) |
| Anti-C1q antibodies (UA) | 86 (56.2–140.2) | 81.5 (50.5–131.5) | 134 (82–205) |
| C3 (mg/dl) | 58 (40.75–72.75) | 58 (38.75–72.25) | 61.5 (46.25–79) |
| C4 (mg/dl) | 7.5 (3.25–12.75) | 6 (3–10.75) | 10.5 (6.75–12.75) |
| Anti-DNA Units | 189 (103–450) | 248.7 (112–626) | 152 (86.5–361) |
| Hydroxychloroquine n. (%) | 35 (66.03%) | 29 (67.44) | 6 (60) |
| Methylprednisolone pulses n. (%) | 40 (75.47) | 33 (76.74) | 7 (70) |
| Prednisone mg/day | 30 (25–50) | 35 (30–50) | 27.5 (25–35.62) |
| Cyclophosphamide n. (%) | 8 (15.09%) | 6 (13.95) | 2 (20) |
| Azathioprine n. (%) | 3 (5.66) | 0 (0) | 2 (20) |
| Cyclosporin n. (%) | 7 (13.2) | 4 (9.3) | 3 (30) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil n. (%) | 36 (67.92) | 32 (74.41) | 4 (40) |
| Data at 6 Months | |||
| Serum creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.78 (0.66–0.95) | 0.76 (0.66–0.88) | 1.01 (0.93–1.09) |
| Proteinuria (g/24 h) | 0.39 (0.24–1.15) | 0.39 (0.23–1.20) | 0.41 (0.33–0.57) |
| Red blood cells/ul | 4470 (4160–4845) | 4480 (4157.5–4867.5) | 4450 (4200–4545) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mg/dL) | 17.5 (10.75–33.50) | 18 (11–33) | 16 (12.5–35) |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dL) | 0.08 (0.04–0.30) | 0.07 (0.04–0.32) | 0.14 (0.07–0.24) |
| Anti-C1q antibodies (UA) | 28 (13.25–70,5) | 22 (10–41) | 79.5 (66.5–91) |
| C3 (mg/dl) | 91 (63.5–100) | 92.5 (63.75–102.75) | 86 (69.5–91) |
| C4 (mg/dl) | 15 (9–20.75) | 16 (8–23) | 12 (11–14.5) |
| Anti-DNA Units, n. (%) | 49.3 (29.58–156) | 49.2 (22.3–139) | 99 (38.75–378.5) |
| Hydroxychloroquine n. (%) | 32 (60.37) | 27 (62.79) | 5 (50) |
| Prednisone (mg) | 10 (7.5–12.5) | 10 (7.5–12.5) | 10 (8.75–11.25) |
| Cyclophosphamide n. (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Azathioprine n. (%) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Ciclosporin n. (%) | 6 (11.32) | 4 (9.3) | 2 (20) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil n. (%) | 35 (66.03) | 30 (69.76 | 5 (50) |
| Data at 12 Months | |||
| Serum creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.81 (0.73–0.95) | 0.77 (0.71–0.94) | 0.89 (0.83–0.96) |
| Proteinuria (g/24 h) | 0.37 (0.2–0.64) | 0.33 (0.17–0.54) | 0.56 (0.38–0.83) |
| Red blood cells/ul | 4510 (3945–4800) | 4535 (3995–4807.5) | 4335 (3895–4715) |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mg/dL) | 22 (12–36) | 19 (11–35) | 29 (26–38) |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dL) | 0.13 (0.06–0.36) | 0.13 (0.06–0.29) | 0.09 (0.05–0.41) |
| Anti-C1q antibodies (UA) | 34 (16–71) | 24 (15–45) | 80 (45–111.25) |
| C3 (mg/dl) | 87 (70–98) | 88.5 (73.5–101.75) | 78.5 (67.75–87.75) |
| C4 (mg/dl) | 14 (10–20) | 14.5 (9.25–20.75) | 11.5 (10.25–14) |
| Anti-DNA | 62 (30–193) | 46.8 (25.72–192.25) | 133 (79.25–578.1) |
| Hydroxychloroquine | 36 (67.92) | 30 (69.76) | 6 (60) |
| Prednisone (mg/day) | 5 (5–7.5) | 5 (5–7.5) | 7.5 (5–9.37) |
| Cyclophosphamide n. (%) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
| Azathioprine n. (%) | 1 (1.88) | 1 (2.32) | 0 (0) |
| Cyclosporin n. (%) | 7 (13.2) | 5 (11.62) | 2 (20) |
| Mycophenolate mofetil n. (%) | 40 (75.47) | 32 (74.41) | 8 (80) |