Table 1 Basic characteristics of NPSLE patients included before and after PSM
| Â | Before PSM | Â | Â | After PSM | Â | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Control group (n = 192) | Intrathecal treatment group (n = 194) | P value | Control group (n = 147) | Intrathecal treatment group (n = 147) | P value | |
Age (years, median [IQR]) | 29[21.75, 40.25] | 31[24.00, 39.75] | 0.265 | 29.0[22.5;40.5] | 30.0[23.0;40.0] | 0.613 |
Sex (Male%) | 26(13.5) | 18(9.3) | 0.247 | 14 (9.52) | 16 (10.9) | 0.847 |
Duration of SLE (months, median [IQR]) | 24.00[4.75, 75.00] | 24.00[6.00, 96.00] | 0.17 | 24.0[4.50;84.0] | 36.0[6.00;96.0] | 0.126 |
System involvement of SLE, n (%) | ||||||
 Fever | 111(57.8) | 108(55.7) | 0.747 | 81 (55.1) | 82 (55.8) | 1 |
 Mucocutaneous involvement | 113(58.9) | 121(62.4) | 0.547 | 84 (57.1) | 93 (63.3) | 0.340 |
 Musculoskeletal involvement | 96(50.0) | 101(52.1) | 0.762 | 81 (55.1) | 66 (44.9) | 0.102 |
 Pulmonary involvement | 16(8.3) | 21(10.8) | 0.51 | 15 (10.2) | 18 (12.2) | 0.712 |
 Cardiovascular involvement | 47(24.5) | 48(24.7) | 1 | 39 (26.5) | 32 (21.8) | 0.414 |
 Hematological involvement | 108(56.2) | 120(61.9) | 0.309 | 85 (57.8) | 91 (61.9) | 0.552 |
 Lupus nephritis | 120(62.5) | 93(47.9) | 0.006* | 95 (64.6) | 71 (48.3) | 0.007* |
 Serositis | 37(19.3) | 24(12.4) | 0.086 | 30 (20.4) | 22 (15.0) | 0.285 |
 Antiphospholipid syndrome | 21 (10.9) | 8 (4.12) | 0.019* | 17(11.6) | 6(4.08) | 0.030* |
Lab tests | ||||||
 Positive anti-dsDNA antibody, n (%) | 112(58.3) | 119(61.3) | 0.618 | 96 (65.3) | 89 (60.5%) | 0.469 |
 Positive anti-rRNP antibody, n (%) | 54(28.1) | 65(33.5) | 0.301 | 27 (18.4) | 34 (23.1%) | 0.388 |
 C3 (g/L, median [IQR]) | 0.53[0.36, 0.73] | 0.50[0.31, 0.71] | 0.414 | 0.51[0.34;0.70] | 0.50[0.33;0.76] | 0.715 |
 C4 (g/L, median [IQR]) | 0.08[0.04, 0.14] | 0.09[0.04, 0.13] | 0.972 | 0.07[0.04;0.13] | 0.09[0.05;0.13] | 0.206 |
 Lupus anticoagulant (median [IQR]) | 1.02[0.97, 1.16] | 1.03[0.98, 1.12] | 0.89 | 1.02[0.96;1.15] | 1.03[0.98;1.12] | 0.749 |
 Positive Coombs test, n (%) | 86(44.8) | 78(40.2) | 0.419 | 71 (48.3) | 60 (40.8) | 0.241 |
 Positive anti-β2GP1 antibody, n (%) | 33(17.8) | 27(14.0) | 0.377 | 28 (19.3) | 19 (13.0) | 0.194 |
 Positive ACL, n (%) | 34(17.9) | 22(11.4) | 0.098 | 29 (19.9) | 16 (11.0) | 0.052 |
SLEDAI 2K (median [IQR]) | 14[10, 19] | 17[12, 22] | <0.001* | 15.0[11.0;20.0] | 16.0[11.0;21.0] | 0.196 |
Onset with NPSLE (%) | 14(7.3) | 18(9.4) | 0.569 | 11 (7.48) | 12 (8.33) | 0.959 |
CSF examinations | ||||||
 Pressure of CSF (mmH2O, median [IQR]) | 162[130, 210] | 173.50[132, 230] | 0.103 | 165 [131;210] | 180 [135;230] | 0.134 |
 Increased ICPa, n (%) | 70(36.5) | 91(46.9) | 0.048* | 63 (42.9) | 74 (50.3) | 0.242 |
 WBC of CSF (106/L, median [IQR]) | 0[0-2] | 0[0–2] | 0.137 | 0[0–2] | 0[0–2] | 0.145 |
 Protein of CSF (g/L, median [IQR]) | 0.33[0.26, 0.45] | 0.44[0.30, 0.66] | <0.001* | 0.32[0.26;0.46] | 0.44[0.30;0.67] | <0.001 |
 Increased CSF protein b, n (%) | 51(26.6) | 97(50.0) | <0.001* | 43 (29.3) | 74 (50.3) | <0.001* |
 Abnormal cytology, n (%) | 12(6.4) | 24(12.9) | 0.05 | 21 (33.3) | 18 (32.7) | 1 |
Methylprednisolone pulse therapy, n (%) | 95(49.5) | 139(71.6) | <0.001* | 91 (61.9) | 94 (63.9) | 0.809 |