Table 2 Demographic, clinical, histologic, Immunologic and therapeutic characteristics of 53 patients at baseline at 6 and at 12 months after the start of therapy

At the start of the study

At six months

At twelve months

Male sex n. (%)

8 (15.09)

6 (13.95)

2 (20)

Age at LN diagnosis Yrs

32 (24–40)

33 (24–41)

29 (24-37.25)

Duration of LN at the start of the study (months)

6.88 (1.09–94.31)

6.15 (1.15–87.58)

71.92 (12.01–93.01)

Histological classes n. (%): III /IV/ V/

10 (18.9), 39 (73.3), 4 (7.5)

7 (9.29), 33 (76.7), 3 (6.97)

3 (30), 6 (60), 1 (10)

Activity Index

8 (4.25-13)

8 (4.25–13.75)

9 (6–12)

Chronicity index

2 (1–3)

2 (1–3)

3 (1.75–3.25)

Serum creatinine (mg/dL)

0.9 (0.67–1.15)

0.86 (0.67–1.21)

0.93 (0.83–1.02)

0.77 (0.66–0.93)

0.94 (0.84–1.06)

0.79 (0.72–0.95)

0.86 (0.83–0.9)

eGFR ml/min/1.73/m²

84.8 (60.6-110.59)

84.8 (60.86-107.59)

86.14(61.17-109.02)

102.90 (84.62-119.92)

82.42 (71.21-112.48)

95.16 (67.25-105.12)

95.52 (75.08–99.17)

Proteinuria (g/24 h)

2.25 (1.28–4.15)

2.40 (1.45–4.20)

1.74 (1.45–2.95)

0.39 (0.24–1.20)

0.41 (0.33–0.57)

0.33 (0.17–0.54)

0.56 (0.38–0.83)

Arterial hypertension n. (%)

35 (66.1)

29 (67.4)

6 (60)

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Red Blood cells /ul

3940 (3500–4480)

3940 (3530–4520)

3865 (3217.5–4375)

4565 (4160–4902)

4410 (4040–4075)

4635 (3995–4807)

4155 (3882–4517)

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ml/h)

54 (31.5–76.5)

56 (35–74)

42 (26–78)

18 (13–33)

15 (10–35)

20 (11.7–35.2)

29 (25–38)

C-reactive protein (mg/dL)

0.1 (0.06–0.81)

0.21 (0.06–0.84)

0.61 (0.08–1.05)

0.08 (0.05–0.33)

0.12 (0.03–0.16)

0.14 (0.06–0.31)

0.09 (0.05–0.41)

Anti-C1q antibodies (UA)

86 (56.2-140.2)

82 (51–130)

150 (75–218)

22 (10-40.5)

76 (66.5–81.5)

24 (15-47.7)

80 (45-97.7)

C3 (mg/dl)

58 (40.75–72.75)

56 (39.5–72.5)

61.5 (46.2–79)

92.5 (63.75-102.75)

86 (69.5–91)

88.5 (73.5-101.75)

78.5 (67.7–87.7)

C4 (mg/dl)

7.5 (3.25–12.75)

7 (3.5–11)

9.5 (3.75–12.5)

16 (9-23.5)

12 (8.5–14.5)

14.5 (10.2–20.7)

11.5 (16.2–14)

Anti-DNA antibodies IU/mL

202 (112–525)

202 (121–600)

203.5 (93.7-436.5)

49.2 (22.3–139)

99 (38.75–378.5)

46.8 (25.7-192.5)

133 (85–502)

Hydroxychloroquine n. (%)

32 (60.37)

27 (62.79)

5 (50)

28 (65.11)

5 (50)

30 (67.92)

6 (60)

Methylprednisolone pulses n. (%)

41 (77.3)

33 (76.74)

8 (80)

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Prednisone mg/day

30 (25–50)

35 (26.2–50)

27.5 (25-35.6)

10 (7.5–12.5)

10 (8.75–11.25)

5 (5-7.5)

7.45 (5-7.5)

Cy/Aza/Csa/MMF n. (%)

9 (17)/ 1 (1.9)/ 4 (7.5)/ 39 (73.5)

7 (16.5)/0/ 4 (9.3)/ 32 (74.4)

2 (20)/ 1 (10)/ 0/ 7 (70)

1 (2.3)/3 (6.9)/39 (90.7)

0 (0)/1 (810)/9 (90)

1 (2.3)/3 (6.9)/ 39 (90.7)

0 (0)/1 (810)/9 (90)

Percent of patients in complete remission

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58%

42.85%

82%

60%