Comparative study between two European inception cohorts of patients with early systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To compare the main characteristics of two inception cohorts (Italian [ITC] and Spanish [SPC]) cohorts of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at the time of diagnosis and at one year of follow-up.

Methods: Demographic, clinical and immunological characteristics, and treatments at SLE diagnosis and at 12 months of follow-up of ITC and SPC were compared.

Results: One hundred and sixty-four patients in the ITC and 231 patients in the SPC were compared.