Fasano S, Pierro L, Borgia A, et al. - Researchers evaluated the role of urinary biomarkers, namely Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1, Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalcin and Lipocalin-type Prostaglandin D-Synthetase (L-PGDS), in predicting renal flares, vs conventional biomarkers, in SLE patients. They also intended to derive a biomarker panel which may enhance diagnostic precision. From 61 patients, urine was collected. A renal flare occurred in 8 patients during 8 months’ follow-up. Significantly increased urinary L-PGDS, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were detected in the patients who subsequently had a renal flare with respect to the remaining 53. The factors that were identified to be related to renal flares, in Cox regression analysis, were L-PGDS, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, hypocomplementemia and anti-dsDNA antibodies. An excellent ability for accurately detecting a flare was shown by a combination of new and conventional biomarkers, based on receiver operating characteristic analysis. Overall, the findings might be indicative of the usefulness of a new biomarker panel in predicting a renal flare in SLE.