Vitamin D levels in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: relationship with disease activity, vascular risk factors and atherosclerosis.

Objectives: To study the relationship of 25(OH)D(3) level with disease activity, vascular risk factors and atherosclerosis in SLE.

Methods: Consecutive patients who fulfilled four or more ACR criteria for SLE were recruited for assay of 25(OH)D(3) level. Disease activity was assessed by the SLEDAI and physicians' global assessment (PGA).

Performance of anti-C1q, antinucleosome, and anti-dsDNA antibodies for detecting concurrent disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the specificity and sensitivity of antinucleosome, anti-C1q, and anti-dsDNA antibodies for detecting concurrent disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Consecutive patients were recruited for serological testing of anti-dsDNA, IgG-antinucleosome, IgG-anti-C1q, and complement levels. SLE disease activity was assessed by SLEDAI and physician's global assessment (PGA).