CRP and diabetes mellitus: Table 2 describes the demographic and clinical variables of SLE patients with and without DED. Compared to non-DED patients, DED patients were older (p < 0.05) and had higher SLEDAI (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between two groups in smoking, alcohol use, corticosteroids use, hydroxychloroquine use, hypertension, diabetes, CRP, C3, and ESR (all P > 0.05).