Abstract: A method for determining whether a Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient is undergoing a pre-flare event, the method comprising obtaining a blood, serum, plasma, or saliva sample from the SLE patient; assessing a level of expression for each of a plurality of biomarkers, the plurality of biomarkers comprising OPN, MCP-1/CCL2, MCP-3/CCL7, IL-17A, TNFRII, TNFRI, IL-4, IL-5, BLyS, TNF?, and IL-7; determining a Lupus Flare Risk Prediction Index (LFPI) for the patient based upon the level of expression for each of a plurality of biomarkers; and based upon the LFPI, determining whether the patient is undergoing a pre-flare event.

Abstract: A method for characterizing disease activity in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient (SLE), comprising obtaining a dataset associated with a blood, serum, plasma or urine sample from the patient, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount of protein expression of at least one innate serum or plasma mediator, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount of protein expression of at least one adaptive serum or plasma mediator biomarker, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount of at least one chemokine/adhesion molecule biomarker, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount of at least one soluble TNF superfamily biomarker, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount of at least one inflammatory mediator biomarker, assessing the dataset for a presence or an amount at least one SLE-associated autoantibody specificity biomarker and calculating a Lupus Disease Activity Immune Index (LDAII) score.