Table 1 Comparison between both SLE groups (with and without LN) regarding demographic, laboratory and clinical characteristics

Demographic features

Age (year)

29.0 ± 7.2

32.5 ± 9.4

1.756

0.083

Disease duration (year)

4.4 ± 3.7

6.8 ± 5.6

2.280

0.025

Male/ Female

6 (15) /34 (85)

1 (2.5) /39 (97.5)

3.914

0.048

Clinical features

Arthritis

34 (85.0)

38 (95.0)

2.200

0.136

Malar rash

25 (62.5)

25 (62.5)

0.00

1.000

Fever

22 (55.0)

17 (42.5)

1.251

0.263

Pleurisy

21 (52.5)

21 (52.5)

0.000

1.000

Oral ulcers

17 (42.5)

21 (52.5)

0.802

0.370

Alopecia

17 (42.5)

17 (42.5)

0.000

1.000

Photosensitivity

13 (32.5)

18 (45.0)

1.317

0.251

Vasculitis

10 (25.0)

4 (10.0)

3.117

0.077

APS

10 (25.0)

9 (22.5)

0.069

0.793

Neurological manifestations

9 (22.5)

11 (27.5)

0.267

0.606

Pericarditis

6 (15.0)

4 (10.0)

0.457

0.499

Discoid rash

2 (5.0)

4 (10.0)

0.721

0.396

Myositis

1 (2.5)

0 (0.0)

1.013

0.314

ECLAM

4.7 ± 2.3

2.9 ± 1.4

4.326

<0.001

Laboratory features

ESR (mm/1st hour)

54.6 ± 32.4

41.7 ± 26.9

1.942

0.056

Serum creatinine (μmol/L)

1.0 ± 0.7

0.6 ± 0.2

2.79

0.008

Serum albumin (g/dl)

3.6 ± 0.6

4.1 ± 0.7

3.895

< 0.001

24 h urinary proteins (g/24 h)

2 ± 1.7

Low C3 < 90

26 (65.0)

10 (25.0)

12.929

< 0.001

Low C4 < 10

17 (42.5)

2 (5.0)

15.531

< 0.001

Anti-nucleosome antibody positivity

24 (60.0)

25 (62.5)

0.053

0.818

Anti-C1q antibody positivity

23 (57.5)

11 (27.5)

7.366

0.007

Renal biopsy

Lupus nephritis class I

0 (0)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class II

5 (12.5)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class III

13 (32.5)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class IV

11 (27.5)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class V

3 (7.5)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class II- III

6 (15)

–

–

–

Lupus nephritis class II & V

2 (5)

–

–

–