Table 5 The clinical characteristics in patients with SLE flare
|  | patient’s self-discontinuation (n = 65 Case) | regular maintenance therapy (n = 56 Case) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age (Year), mean (SD) | 38.5(12.5) | 41.6(13.7) | 0.396 |
Gender (female/male) | 61/4 | 52/4 | 1.000 |
Disease duration (Month), mean (SD) | 91.6(82.3) | 95.0(78.1) | 0.926 |
SLEDAI-2 k of first onset (score), mean (SD) | 10.9(3.8) | 12.4(4.4) | 0.072 |
Initial treatment | |||
 glucocorticoid amount (mg/kg/d), mean (SD) | 0.9(0.3) | 1.0(1.3) | 0.153 |
 Hydroxychloroquine, n (%) | 52(80.0) | 46(82.1) | 0.819 |
 Immunosuppressive therapy, n (%) | 27(41.5) | 22(39.3) | 0.854 |
Regular maintenance treatment | / | 56 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) | / | 8 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) + HCQ | / | 20 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) + HCQ + MMF | / | 6 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) + HCQ + AZA | / | 9 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) + HCQ + MTX | / | 10 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d) + HCQ + CsA | / | 2 | / |
  Prednisone(≤5 mg/d)HCQ + FK-506 | / | 1 | / |
Characteristics of SLE flare | |||
 Flare degree (mild moderate / severe, n/n) | 10/55 | 18/38 | 0.033 |
 SLEDAI-2 k (Score), mean (SD) | 13.1(6.6) | 10.5(5.6) | 0.140 |
 SDI1, mean (SD) | 0.20(0.44) | 0.25(0.48) | 0.270 |
 SDI2, mean (SD) | 2.06(1.45) | 1.21(1.07) | 0.042* |
 SDI increment a, mean (SD) | 1.86(1.26) | 0.96(0.89) | 0.011* |
Clinical symptoms of flare, n (%) | |||
 Fever | 16(24.6) | 13(23.2) | 1.000 |
 Rash | 17(26.2) | 18(32.1) | 0.548 |
 Arthritis | 12(18.5) | 11(19.6) | 1.000 |
 oral ulcer | 5(7.7) | 5(9.0) | 1.000 |
 Serositis | 26(40.0) | 9(16.1) | 0.005* |
 Leukopenia b | 15(23.1) | 15(26.8) | 0.677 |
 Anemia associated with SLE c | 36(55.4) | 14(25.0) | 0.001* |
 Thrombocytopenia d | 14(21.5) | 12(21.4) | 1.000 |
 Vasculitis | 10(15.4) | 3(5.4) | 0.086 |
 Lupus nephritis | 38(58.5) | 23(41.1) | 0.069 |
 Neuropsychiatric lupus | 11(16.9) | 14(25.0) | 0.368 |
 Lupus pneumonia | 12(18.5) | 7(12.5) | 0.456 |
 Pulmonary hypertension | 17(26.2) | 3(5.4) | 0.003* |
 Lupus related cardiac damage | 9(13.8) | 4(7.1) | 0.378 |
 Lupus related gastrointestinal damage | 8(12.3) | 6(10.7) | 1.000 |