Patients and samples
Totally 50 SLE and 50 healthy control (HC) patients were enrolled. Individuals with SLE were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College that applied the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification of SLE(12). The main features of the SLE cases are listed in Table 1. Disease activity was measured by the modified Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K)(13), and classified as low disease activity (LDA) (SLEDAI of 0-4, n=34) and active disease (SLEDAI above 4, n=16). This trial had approval from the Institutional Medical Ethics Review Board of Baotou Medical College, and signed informed consent was obtained from each participant.
Twelve SLE patients were assessed in a follow-up study. All SLE cases were administered immunosuppressants, with disease remission. Blood specimens were collected prior to treatment and at 4 weeks post-treatment. Patient features pre- and post-treatment are summarized in Table 2