Adhya Z, et al. - Researchers sought for improved blood and urine markers that may help in early detection of flare, distinction between flare and chronic damage, and monitoring response to therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis. Following cytokines were examined in serum and urine samples from a total of 87 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), monocyte inhibitory protein 1α (MIP-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). As per outcomes, sTNF-R1 could be a useful serum cytokine marker, with potential for VEGF in the urine for active LN. The FIDIS multiplex bead assay, used for performing cytokine testing, was confirmed as valuable for detecting cytokines in a good analytical range, including very low and high levels, in both serum and urine. Additional sensitivity was gained in distinguishing active from inactive LN, when serum and urine markers were combined.