Table 1 Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of SLE patients with proliferative nephritis

Sex: F/M

54/4 (93/7)

Mean age (years)

   39 ± 12 (22-75)

Mean age at SLE diagnosis (years)

   26 ± 11 (8-66)

Mean age at nephritis (years)

   29 ± 12 (8-73)

Mean duration of follow-up (months)

   97 (1-273)

Cardiovascular risk factors

   35 (58)

Positive aPL

   31 (53.4)

APS

   8 (14.8)

ANA (+)

   58 (100)

a-DNA (+)

   49 (84.5)

a-Ro (+)

   21 (42.9)

a-Sm (+)

   16 (33.3)

a-RNP (+)

   11 (22.9)

Low complement levels

   52 (91.2)

Treatment before first renal biopsy

   Antiaggregation

   20/65 (31)

   Oral anticoagulation

   2/65 (3.1)

   Glucocorticoids

   50/65 (77)

≤7.5 mg/d prednisone

   42%

< 7.5 to 30 mg/d prednisone

   43%

> 30 to 60 mg/d prednisone

   10%

> 1 mg/kg/d prednisone

   5%

   Azathioprine

   13/65 (20)

   Antimalarials

   20/65 (31)

ISN/RPS nephritis classification:

   Type II

   2/65 (3)

   Type III-A

   13/65 (20)

   Type III-A/C

   4/65 (6.1)

   Type III-A + V

   2/65 (3)

   Type IV-SA

   10/65 (15.4)

   Type IV-SA/C

   4/65 (6.1)

   Type IV-GA

   23/65 (35.4)

   Type IV-GA/C

   5/65 (7.7)

   Type IV-GA/C + V

   2/65 (3)

24 hours proteinuria (mg)^a

   3,355.1 ± 3,372.3 (230-19,700)

Hematuria (+)^a

   56 (86.2)

Leukocyturia (+)^a

   52 (80)

Cellular casts (+)^a

   42 (64.6)

Mean serum creatinine (mg/dl)^a

   1.1 ± 0.5 (0.4-3.4)

Mean creatinine clearance (ml/min)^a

   91.8 ± 44.4 (25-289)

Renal failure^a

   17 (26.2)

HBP^a

   35 (53.8)

SLEDAI^a

   20.4 (4-36)

Response to treatment

   50 (83.3)

Mean time of response (months)

   15 ± 19 (1-101)