Table 1 Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of the study subjects

Age (mean ± SD)

39.5 ± 16.1

41.3 ± 16.4

42.9 ± 13.3

39.7 ± 6.8

38.5 ± 10.1

0.69

Gender (male/female)

13/40

13/47

14/46

13/47

14/46

–

Clinical manifestations

Fever

46 (87%)

19 (32%)

12 (20%)

4 (7%)

–

–

Skin rash

37 (70%)

32 (53%)

12 (20%)

4 (7%)

–

–

Arthritis

43 (81%)

12 (20%)

18 (30%)

60 (100%)

–

–

Sore throat

25 (47%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

2 (3%)

–

–

Hepatomegaly or abnormal liver

44 (83%)

4 (7%)

7 (12%)

7 (12%)

–

–

Function tests Splenomegaly

21 (40%)

4 (7%)

7 (12%)

7 (12%)

–

–

Lymphadenopathy

9 (17%)

6 (10%)

6 (10%)

6 (10%)

–

–

Pleuritis

11 (21%)

15 (25%)

2 (3%)

4 (7%)

–

–

Pericarditis

12 (21%)

8 (13%)

0 (0%)

3 (5%)

–

–

Pneumonitis

16 (30%)

9 (15%)

17 (28%)

5 (8%)

–

–

Abdominal pain

3 (6%)

3 (6%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

–

–

Elevated leukocyte count

34 (64%)

10 (17%)

5 (8%)

9 (15%)

–

–

Laboratory findings

WBC (10⁹/L)

13.29 ± 6.29

6.38 ± 3.19

6.15 ± 4.55

6.44 ± 3.29

6.21 ± 1.38

< 0.0001

Neutrophils (10⁹/L)

11.43 ± 6.27

4.89 ± 2.74

4.53 ± 4.18

4.45 ± 2.90

3.61 ± 1.04

< 0.0001

AST (IU/L)

58.57 ± 88.34

18.88 ± 12.71

27.12 ± 23.65

26.78 ± 34.34

23.01 ± 15.15

< 0.003

ALT (IU/L)

78.96 ± 100.4

20.13 ± 9.70

26.83 ± 28.40

33.37 ± 66.80

29.19 ± 15.39

< 0.0002

LDH (IU/L)

531.5 ± 360.1

288.3 ± 88.97

265.3 ± 151.3

187.3 ± 49.1

175.0 ± 29.43

< 0.0001

Ferrition (ng/mL)

4601 ± 6208

655.9 ± 457.5

533.3 ± 642.3

293.9 ± 390.7

200.0 ± 158.2

< 0.0001

ESR (mm/h)

55.08 ± 30.41

42.58 ± 32.22

37.87 ± 31.06

34.8 ± 24.5

7.34 ± 5.83

< 0.0001

CRP (mg/dL)

60.21 ± 40.86

17.44 ± 22.19

12.83 ± 20.81

16.01 ± 23.36

3.91 ± 2.02

< 0.0001

Pouchot score

5.58 ± 1.98

–

–

–

–

–