Mejia-Vilet JM, Mejia-Vilet Y, Mejia-Vilet JM, Jet al. - In this study, the prevalence of angiotensin II type 1 receptor agonist antibodies (AT1R-AAs) in active lupus nephritis (LN) individuals and their association with vascular damage were investigated. Researchers included a total of 107 active LN individuals who underwent a complete clinical examination, measurement of AT1R-AAs, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, carotid intima-media thickness measurement and morphometric analysis of subintimal fibrosis and medial hyperplasia of the vessels in the kidney tissue. They found a greater percentage of subintimal fibrosis and the area of medial hyperplasia in the AT1R-AA-positive individuals in the kidney biopsy. There were no differences in arterial pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and response to therapy. In active LN individuals, AT1R-AAs are prevalent and are associated with histologic features of microvascular damage.