Table 1 Categorical characteristics of patients according to severe lupus flare-up vs. no severe flare

Gender, female

67

92%

37

79%

0.04

History of cardiovascular diseases

1

1.4%

0

0%

0.4

History of diabetes

0

0%

1

2%

0.4

History of nephritis

32

44%

36

76.5%

0.001

History of hypertension

18

25%

9

19%

0.5

Anticardiolipin antibody (IgG)

17

23.5%

10

21%

0.6

Anticardiolipin antibody (IgM)

13

18%

8

17%

0.75

Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I antibody (IgM)

1

1.4%

0

0%

0.4

Anti-beta 2 glycoprotein I antibody (IgG)

6

8.5%

4

8.5%

0.9

Antiphospholipid syndrome

11

15%

5

10.5%

0.4

Severe flare at the 1^st visit

0

0.0%

19

40.5%

0.001

Severe flare at the 2nd visit

0

0.0%

7

15%

0.04

Severe flare at the 3rd visit

0

0.0%

6

13%

0.08

Severe flare at the 4th visit

0

0.0%

5

11%

0.15

Severe flare at the 5th visit

0

0.0%

5

11%

0.15

Severe flare at the 6th visit

0

0.0%

10

21%

0.006

Severe flare at the 7th visit

0

0.0%

5

10.5%

0.15

Severe flare at the 8th visit

0

0.0%

2

4%

0.5

Severe flare at the 9th visit

0

0.0%

3

6%

0.3

Severe flare at the 10th visit

0

0.0%

0

0%

NA

Etiology of severe flares at the first visit

Renal

3

2.50%

17

36%

0.001

Rash

2

1.70%

0

0%

Immunologic

1

1.4%

0

0%

Arthritis

1

1.4%

0

0%

Renal Plus Arthritis

1

1.4%

1

2%

Renal Plus Thrombocytopenia

1

1.4%

0

0%

Renal Plus Leukopenia

0

0%

1

2%

Neuropsychiatric

0

0%

6

13%

Cumulative etiologies of severe flares by the end of all visits

Renal

41

34.2%

50

42%

0.01

Rash

8

6.7%

2

1.7%

Oral Ulcer

1

0.8%

0

0.0%

Immunologic

8

6.7%

0

0.0%

Leukopenia

1

0.8%

0

0.0%

Thrombocytopenia

4

3.3%

2

1.7%

Arthritis

12

10%

1

0.8%

Renal Plus Arthritis

1

0.8%

1

0.8%

Renal Plus Thrombocytopenia

1

0.8%

1

0.8%

Renal Plus Leukopenia

0

0.0%

1

0.0%

Neuropsychiatric

0

0.0%

6

5.0%

At the first visit*:

Anti-ds-DNA

39

53.5%

35

74.5%

0.02

Low C3

24

33%

21

44.5%

0.2

Low C4

18

25%

14

30%

0.5

Active nephritis

7

9.5%

22

47%

0.001

CRP

11

15%

9

19%

0.5

Malar rash

1

1.4%

3

6%

0.15

Discoid rash

1

1.4%

1

2%

0.9

Arthritis

2

3%

2

4%

0.65

Serositis

1

1.4%

0

0%

0.9

Use of Hydroxychloroquine

52

71%

39

83%

0.15

Use of azathioprine

9

12.5%

11

23.5%

0.1

Use of cyclophosphamide

3

4.5%

3

6%

0.7

Use of mycophenolate mofetil

18

25%

15

32%

0.4

Use of Methotrexate

2

3%

0

0%

0.5

Use of tacrolimus

9

12.5%

7

15%

0.7