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. Here, MMP9 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.