VEGFR-1 levels are increased in chronic non-healing wounds, whereas in normal healing wounds granulation tissue formation is positively correlated with a decline in VEGFR-1.38 Elevated VEGFR-1 levels have been reported to promote endothelial injury in children with lupus nephritis,39 and to inhibit endothelial repair in PR3-ANCA associated vasculitis.40 Upregulation of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 was demonstrated in SSc skin.14, 41 However, some of these semiquantitative results are contradictory. This evidence concerns the gene PRTN3 and lupus nephritis.