title: Diverse vascular lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus and clinical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular injury is one of the typical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and may play a key role in the choice of treatment strategy and prediction of prognosis. In this review, diverse vascular lesions in SLE and their clinical significance are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical features of vascular disease in SLE differ from organ to organ, and may be extreme with regard to renal vascular lesions. Vascular lesions in SLE may be of inflammatory or thrombotic origin, and immune system dysfunction is considered to be a predominant feature. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that the activation and injury of endothelial cells might play a key role in the pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular lesions in SLE are mediated by a complex interaction between the immune system and other contributing factors. Different therapies developed for vascular lesions, both immunosuppressive and nonimmunosuppressive, should be selected based on the different clinical and pathological characteristics, and our future understanding of the different mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: aRenal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital bInstitute of Nephrology, Peking University cKey Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China dKey Laboratory of Chronic Kidney Disease Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education, Beijing, PR China *Ying Tan and Feng Yu contributed equally to the writing of this article.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators