Microalbuminuria: an early marker of renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus

The present study comprised 50 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] patients with no clinical evidence of renal disease. Twenty healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as a control group. All patients and controls were subjected to a complete history taking, thorough clinical examination and laboratory tests. The study concluded that in the absence of clinical evidence of renal disease in SLE patients, microalbuminuria can indicate subclinical nephropathy and measurements may have a role in the early diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of renal disease in SLE patients