Serological markers of basement membrane collagen type IV and laminin are increased in systemic lupus erythematosus but differentially expressed in patients with previous cardiovascular events.

These findings indicate that remodelling of collagen type IV and laminin is increased in SLE unrelated to disease activity, presumably reflecting clinically silent disease progression. The selective association of increased LG1M and cardiovascular events may represent a distinctive aspect of SLE-related vessel wall repair.