| Parameters |
All subjects n=100 |
Active LN n=47 |
Inactive LN n=53 |
p value |
| Age, mean ± SD years |
336.90 ± 10.62 |
36.40 ± 9.97 |
37.33 ± 11.24 |
0.74 |
| - Female: no. (%) |
92 (92) |
43 (91.5) |
49 (92.5) |
0.57 |
| - Male: no. (%) |
8 (8) |
4 (8.5) |
4 (7.5) |
|
| Race: no. (%) |
| - Malay |
41(41) |
24 (51.1) |
17 (32.1) |
0.14 |
| - Chinese |
55 (55) |
21 (44.7) |
34 (64.2) |
|
| - Indian |
4 (4) |
2 (4.3) |
2 (3.8) |
|
| LN duration in years |
7 (1–24) |
7 (1–24) |
7 (1–17) |
0.56 |
| Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) |
7 (7%) |
3 (6.4) |
4 (7.5) |
0.82 |
| Musculoskeletal system (MSK) |
41 (41%) |
20 (42.6) |
21 (39.6) |
0.46 |
| - Duration of MSK in years |
6 (1–27) |
6.5 (1–27) |
6 (1–27) |
0.60 |
| Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA) |
26 (26%) |
14 (29.8) |
12 (22.6) |
0.27 |
| - Duration of AIHA in years |
4.88 ± 3.21 |
5.58 ± 3.44 |
4.28 ± 2.99 |
0.34 |
| Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) |
9 (9%) |
5 (10.6) |
4 (7.5) |
0.24 |
| - Duration of ITP in years |
7.5 ± 4.62 |
9.5 ± 5.8 |
5.5 ± 2.38 |
0.20 |
| Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) |
1 (1%) |
0 |
1 (1%) |
0.53 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) |
128 ± 17.68 |
128 ± 13.16 |
120 ± 13.91 |
0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) |
75.2 ± 4.08 |
77.80 ± 10.31 |
73.68 ± 10.44 |
0.04 |
| Classes of lupus nephritis (%) |
| - WHO class I |
1 (1) |
1 (2.1) |
0 (0) |
0.71 |
| - WHO class II ± V |
6 (6) |
3 (6.4) |
3 (5.7) |
|
| - WHO class III ± V |
34 (34) |
15 (31.9) |
19 (35.8) |
|
| - WHO class IV ± V |
52 (52) |
26 (55.3) |
26 (49.1) |
|
| - WHO class V |
5 (5) |
1 (2.1) |
4 (7.5) |
|
| - WHO class VI |
2 (2) |
1 (2.1) |
1 (1.9) |
|
| Activity index median (IQR) |
8 (0–19) |
9 (0–16) |
8 (0–19) |
0.93 |
| Chronicity index median (IQR) |
3 (0–15) |
3.58 (0–9) |
3 (1–15) |
0.55 |
| CKD stage |
| - Stage 1 (eGFR > 90) |
61 (61) |
25 (53.2) |
36 (67.9) |
0.06 |
| - Stage 2 (eGFR 60 - 89) |
22 (22) |
10 (21.3) |
12 (22.6) |
|
| - Stage 3 (eGFR 30 - 59) |
14 (14) |
9 (19.1) |
5 (9.4) |
|
| - Stage 4 (eGFR 15 - 29) |
3 (3) |
3 (6.4) |
0 (0%) |
|
| Medications, no (%) |
| - Corticosteroids |
95 (95) |
43 (91.5) |
52 (98.1) |
0.12 |
| - Cumulative dose for previous six months (g) |
1.80 (0.75–4.50) |
1.80 (0.90–4.50) |
1.76 (0.75–1.95) |
0.001 |
| - Cumulative dose from previous relapse (g) |
5.040 (0.90–24.43) |
4.415 (0.90–24.43) |
6.685 (1.59–13.32) |
0.009 |
| - Time from last relapse (months) |
22 (1–120) |
11 (1–120) |
28 (3.5–72) |
0.001 |
| - Cyclophosphamide |
8 (8) |
8 (17) |
0 (0) |
0.002 |
| - Cyclosporine A/Tacrolimus |
30 (30) |
19 (40.4) |
11 (20.8) |
0.03 |
| - Mychophenolic acid |
22 (22) |
12 (25.5) |
10 (18.9) |
0.42 |
| - Azathioprine |
36 (36) |
12 (25.5) |
24 (45.3) |
0.04 |
| - Hydroxychloroquine |
42 (42) |
20 (42.6) |
22 (41.5) |
0.91 |
| - Renin angiotensin system blockers (ACEI / ARB/ Spironolactone) |
68 (68) |
29 (61.7) |
39 (73.6) |
0.11 |
| - Other antihypertensive agents |
| - Calcium channels blockers |
28 (28) |
12 (25.5) |
16 (30.1) |
NS |
| - Beta blockers |
13 (13) |
6 (12.7) |
7 (13.2) |
NS |
| - Alfa blockers |
1 (1) |
1 (1) |
0 (0) |
NS |
| - Lipid lowering agents |
39 (39) |
20 (42.5) |
19 (35.8) |
NS |
| - Aspirin |
13 (13) |
4 (8.5) |
9 (17) |
0.20 |
SD: Standard Deviation; IQR: Interquartile Range; LN: Lupus Nephritis; WHO: World Health Organization; CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease; ACEI: Angiotension Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; ARBs: Angiotensin Receptor Blockers; NS: Not Significant