Table 1 Clinical characteristics of SLE patients and healthy controls

Sex (male/female)

4/125

26/74

Age in years (mean ± SD)

28.14 ± 8.43

31.18 ± 5.32

Duration of disease years (mean ± SD)

2.90 ± 2.66

-

SLEDAI scores (mean ± SD)

18.36 ± 6.73

-

Photosensitivity rash

34 (26)

-

Malar rash

73 (57)

-

Discoid rash

14 (11)

-

Oral ulcer

76 (59)

-

Arthritis

77 (60)

-

NPSLE

11 (9)

-

Myocarditis

3 (2)

-

Serositis

7 (5)

-

Nephritis

46 (37)

-

Vasculitis

17 (13)

-

Treatment details of patients under therapy at the time of recruitment to the study (n = 50)

Medicine

Quantity

Number of patient treated (%)

Prednisolone; mean (range)

18.99 mg (5-50 mg)

50 (100)

Hydroxychloroquine

6.5 mg/kg body weight

50 (100)

Calcium

1 g/day

50 (100)

Vitamin D₃

250-500 IU/day

50 (100)

Azathioprine

50-100 mg/day

4 (8)

Mycophenolate mofetil

2 gm/day

4 (8)