Table 3 Inclusion items in the SLICC classification criteria in patients with normal and low serum complement levels

Total number of items in the SLICC classification criteria, mean

Including complement

5.3 ± 1.4

7.1 ± 1.9

 < 0.001

Excluding complement

6.1 ± 1.9

0.062

Clinical items based on the SLICC classification criteria

Total number, mean

2.9 ± 1.1

3.5 ± 1.6

0.072

Incidence in each item, n (%)

 Acute cutaneous lupus

16 (76.2)

54 (56.3)

0.139

 Chronic cutaneous lupus

1 (4.8)

3 (3.1)

0.552

 Oral ulcer

2 (9.5)

19 (19.8)

0.358

 Nonscarring alopecia

2 (9.5)

24 (25.0)

0.155

 Synovitis (2 or more joins)

15 (71.4)

51 (53.1)

0.150

 Serositis

3 (14.3)

23 (24.0)

0.401

 Renal disorder

1 (4.8)

39 (40.6)

0.002

 Neurological disorder

0

12 (12.5)

0.121

 Hemolytic anemia

2 (9.5)

16 (16.7)

0.523

 Leukopenia (< 4000/mm³)

14 (66.7)

74 (77.1)

0.402

 Thrombocytopenia (< 100,000/mm³)

4 (19.0)

25 (26.0)

0.588

Immunologic items based on the SLICC classification criteria

Total number, mean

2.4 ± 0.7

3.6 ± 0.8

 < 0.001

Number excluding complement, mean

2.6 ± 0.8

0.477

Incidence in each item, n (%)

ANA levels

  > 80 titers

20 (95.2)

93 (96.9)

0.552

  > 40 titers

21 (100)

95 (99.0)

0.999

 Anti-dsDNA antibody

13 (61.9)

81 (84.4)

0.031

 Anti-Sm antibody

8 (38.1)

33 (34.4)

0.803

 Antiphospholipid antibody

9 (42.9)

39 (40.6)

0.999

Low complement

 Low C3

–

93 (96.9)

–

 Low C4

–

83 (88.3)*

–

 Low CH50

–

64 (80.0)*

–

Direct Coombs’ test

(in the absence of hemolytic anemia)

0

0*

–