The laboratory evidence of flare in SLE is:

SLE FLARE: LAB RESULTS Increases in quantities of anti-dsDNA herald a flare, paicularly of nephritis or vasculitis It may be associated with declining levels of C3 or C4 complement. Antibodies to Sm is specific for SLE and assist in diagnosis; anti-Sm antibodies do not correlate with disease activity or clinical manifestations. Ref: Harrison, E-18, P-2735