Research Article

Altered Profile of Fecal Microbiota in Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Egyptian Patients

Table 2

The demographic and clinical data of the study subjects.

SLE patients (n = 20)Healthy control (n = 20)

Demographic dataAge (years), mean ± SD25.6 ± 6.329.9 ± 6.6
Female/male18/216/4
BMI (kg/m2), mean ± SD25.57 ± 4.0223.78 ± 3.74
Disease duration (months), mean ± SD3.5 ± 1.63

Clinical data, n (%)Malar rash6 (30%)
Photosensitivity14 (70%)
Arthritis12 (60%)
Oral ulcer11 (55%)
Alopecia3 (15%)
Raynaud’s phenomenon11 (55%)
Seizures1 (5%)
Psychosis3 (15%)
Nephritis4 (20%)
Fever > 386 (30%)

Laboratory assessmentsESR (mm/h), mean ± SD58.75 ± 34.89.05 ± 2.1
CRP (mg/l), median (range)4.2 (0.5–43)2 (0.5–4)
Serum C3 (g/liter), mean ± SD0.93 ± 0.65
Serum C4 (g/liter), mean ± SD0.17 ± 0.1
Positive ANA, n (%)20 (100%)
Positive anti-dsDNA, n (%)17 (85%)

Liver function testsALT (U/L), mean ± SD24.22 ± 9.9
AST (U/L), median (range)21.95 (9.8–76.9)

Kidney function testsBUN (mg/dl), median (range)14.5 (6.3–29)
Creatinine (mg/dl), median (range)0.65 (0.36–1.42)

Disease activity SLEDAI-2K scoresSLEDAI-2K scores, mean ± SD9.25 ± 3.9
Mild activity (SLEDAI: 1–5), n (%)4 (20%)
Moderate activity (SLEDAI: 6–10), n (%)9 (45%)
High activity (SLEDAI ≥ 11), n (%)7 (35%)

ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; C3: complement 3; C4: complement 4; ANA: antinuclear antibodies; anti-dsDNA: anti-double-stranded DNA antibody; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; SLEDAI: Systemic Lupus Disease Activity Index.