Table 1 Baseline characteristics

Female sex

55 (93 %)

45 (69 %)

Age, yr

44 ± 16

48 (14)

Caucasian

59 (100 %)

65 (100 %)

Disease duration, yr

7 ± 7

SLICC/ACR Damage Index

0.8 ± 1.4

SLEDAI-2 K

3.7 ± 3.5

 cSLEDAI-2 K (only clinical SLEDAI-2 K items)

2.2 ± 3.0

 SLEDAI-2 K ≥4

30 (53 %)

 SLEDAI-2 K ≥6

19 (33 %)

 Any SLEDAI-2 K clinical features

26 (45 %)

 Neuropsychiatric features^a

2 (3 %)

 Vasculitis^a

0 (0 %)

 Arthritis^a

10 (17 %)

 Myositis^a

0 (0 %)

 Renal features^a

8 (14 %)

 Rash^a

9 (15 %)

 Alopecia^a

5 (9 %)

 Mucosal ulcers^a

0 (0 %)

 Serositis^a

1 (2 %)

 Haematological features^a

3 (5 %)

 Fever^a

0 (0 %)

 Increased DNA binding^a

22 (38 %)

 Low complement^a

28 (48 %)

Anti-nucleosome antibody–positive

25 (46 %)

Oral glucocorticoids

35 (59 %)

Immunosuppressants

15 (25 %)