Young SLE patients with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) showed evidence of ongoing immune activation.Low MMP-9 levels may serve as early markers of myocardial disease.Cytokines (e.g., IL-1B, IL-6) and fibrosis markers (e.g., TIMP-1) were significantly elevated in SLE patients compared to controls. This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and systemic lupus erythematosus.