MODERN APPROACHES TO EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS OF RENAL INVOLVEMENT IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently leads to renal involvement, known as lupus nephritis (LN), which remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Although renal biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis, its invasiveness limits routine application. Therefore, reliable non-invasive biomarkers are needed. To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with SLE with and without LN.