Mejia-Vilet JM, López-Hernández YJ, Santander-Vélez JI, et al. - Researchers performed this study with 107 active lupus nephritis (LN) patients, to determine the prevalence of angiotensin II type 1 receptor agonist antibodies (AT1R-AAs) in this patient sample as well as their link with vascular damage. They identified 58 (54.2%) patients had plasma AT1R-AAs positive. The group with positive AT1R-AAs, vs those with negative AT1R-AAs, was found to exhibit higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, complement C3 and C4 levels and titers of anti-dsDNA antibodies. The AT1R-AA-positive patients had greater percentage of subintimal fibrosis and the area of medial hyperplasia in the kidney biopsy. Overall, findings revealed that AT1R-AAs prevailed in active LN patients and were related to histologic characteristics of microvascular damage.