Analysis of Sodium Chloride Intake and Treg/Th17 Lymphocytes in Healthy Individuals and Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Table 2
Main clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Number (female/male)
37 (34/3)
Mean age (range)
36.5 ± 15.5 years (18.3–52.5)
Disease duration (range)
8.3 ± 6.7 years (0.4–16.3)
MEX-SLEDAI > 4.0
28/37 (75.6%)
Therapy
Prednisone(dose range)
24/37 (2.5–7.5 mg/day)
Methotrexate (dose range)
26/37 (10.0–15.0 mg/week)
Azathioprine (dose range)
9/37 (50.0–100.0 mg/day)
Biological agents
0/37
Untreated patients (%)
9/31 (29%)
Antinuclear antibodies (%)
37/37 (100%)
Low complement levels
25/37 (68%)
Salt intake
Low (range)
6/37 (1.8–4.6 g/day)
High (range)
31/37 (5.0–15.1)
Most treated patients were receiving two or more drugs.