Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the SLE patients

SS group (n = 40)

SR group (n = 22)

P value

Sex (male/female)

7/33

4/18

0.83

Age (years)

30.78 ± 11.76

29.45 ± 13.15

0.69

Years since diagnosis

3.09 ± 4.77

2.74 ± 4.14

0.77

SLEDAI before treatment

11.88 ± 4.49

12.91 ± 5.37

0.42

SLEDAI after treatment

7.5 ± 3.92

15.05 ± 5.27

0.00

Cumulative dose of prednisolone (mg)

7,719.78 ± 8,731.89

6,372.41 ± 8,925.94

0.84

Data presented as mean ± standard deviation. SLEDAI, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; SR, steroid resistant; SS, steroid sensitive. P values calculated using Fisher's exact test or the chi-squared test. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Wang et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R103   doi:10.1186/ar3828