Table 2 Demographic, serological, clinical data and medication prior to induction therapy

SLEDAI-2 k (points); median (range)

12 (6 to 20)

14 (2 to 30)

gender female number (%)

15 (65.2)

16 (66.7)

age (years); mean ± SD

35 ± 10

34 ± 10

duration (years); median (range)

4 (1 to 24)

3 (0 to 25)

age at initial diagnosis of SLE (years); mean ± SD

29 ± 10

30 ± 10

medication

prednisone (mg/day); median (range)

10.0 (5.0-30.0)

10.0 (0.0-250.0)

co-medication with antimalarials number (%)

15 (65.2)

11 (45.8)

preceding immunosuppressive medication number (%)

- CYC

11 (47.8)

- MMF

6 (25.0)

- AZA

8 (24.8)

7 (29.2)

- MTX

2 (8.7)

2 (8.3)

- CsA

1 (4.3)

1 (4.2)

- none

1 (4.3)^a

8 (33.3)^a

manifestations number (%)

class III-V nephritis flare

17 (73.9)

18 (75.0)

eGFR <60 ml/min

4 (18.2)

6 (25.0)

C3c <0.9 g/L

14 (60.9)^b

23 (95.8)^b

neuropsychiatric

1 (4.3)

3 (12.5)

mucocutaneous/cutaneous

14 (60.9)

14 (58.3)

arthritis

8 (34.8)

6 (25.0)

serositis

2 (8.7)

5 (20.8)

myositis

2 (8.7)

3 (12.5)

autoantibodies number (%)

anti-dsDNA >7 U/ml

21 (91.3)

21 (87.5)

anti-Ro >7 U/ml

15 (65.2)

13 (54.2)

anti-La >7 U/ml

5 (21.7)

5 (20.8)

anti-U1-RNP >5 U/ml

11 (47.8)

13 (54.2)

anti-SM >5 U/ml

8 (34.8)

11 (45.8)