Nailfold capillaroscopy in Egyptian systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients: correlation with demographic features and serum levels of IL 17A and IFNs I

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Table 4 Demographic and laboratory differences in SLE patients according to NFC patterns

Parameters	Normal pattern (n = 14)	Non-specific pattern (n = 32)	Scleroderma pattern (n = 7)	P value
Age (years)	27 ± 12.9	31 ± 8.9	34 ± 9.8	NS
Sex (M/F)	3/11	4/28	0/7	NS
Disease duration (months)	18 ± 34.8	24 ± 40.4	30 ± 40.1	NS
SLEDAI	7.5 ± 5.74	13.1 ± 6.3	19.3 ± 2.41	0.03
RP⁺ (n/%)	3/21.43	0/0	5/71.4	< 0.0001
IL-17A (ng/ml)	2.67 ± 0.65	3.2 ± 0.56	2.96 ± 0.5	NS
IFN-α (ng/ml)	0.4 ± 0.081	0.33 ± 0.08	0.38 ± 0.062	NS
IFN-β (ng/ml)	0.47 ± 0.084	0.4 ± 0.082	0.45 ± 0.07	NS
APL⁺ (n/%)	6/42.9	8/25	1/14.3	NS

SLEDAI systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index, RP⁺ positive for Reynaud’s phenomenon, IL-17A interleukin 17A, IFN-α interferon alpha, IFN-β interferon beta, APL⁺ positive for anti-phospholipid antibody, NS non-significant. Data were presented by mean ± standard deviation and number/percentage (n/%). P was considered significant when it was ≤ 0.05 and non-significant when more than 0.05