ABSTRACT
Objectives: To explore the ability to use urinary level of plasmin as an indicator for renal affection and activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
(SLE) patients.
Patients and methods: Between April 2020 and October 2020, urine samples from 50 SLE patients (2 males, 48 females; mean age: 35.5±8.1 years;
range, 22 to 39 years) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (2 males, 18 females; mean age: 34.1±6.5 years; range, 27 to 38) were collected.
The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of renal manifestations as those with renal disease (n=28) and
those without renal disease (n=22). The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), renal activity (rSLEDAI), and Systemic Lupus
International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SLICC-DI) scores were calculated. Renal biopsy was performed to patients with active lupus
nephritis (LN). The activity index (AI) and Chronicity Index (CI) were scored.
Results: There was a highly statistically significant difference in the mean urinary plasmin levels between SLE cases and the control
group (88.9±42.6 ng/mL vs. 21.3±26.8 ng/mL, respectively; p