SUMMARY. We have measured the urinary excretion of total protein, albumin and retinol binding protein (RBP) in random urine specimens obtained from 40 female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Thirty-three of these patients had no clinical evidence of any renal impairment (non-renal SLE); seven had overt renal disease (renal SLE). RBP: creatinine ratios were significantly higher in non-renal SLE patients compared with female controls (P = 0,002). There was no significant difference between urine total protein concentrations, albumin: creatinine or total protein: creatinine ratios in non-renal SLE patients when compared with controls, despite approximately 20% of these patients having elevated excretion of total protein or albumin. All seven renal SLE patients had elevated albumin: creatinine ratios but only four of them had an increased RBP: creatinine ratio. Of 29 non-renal SLE patients who had urinary total protein concentrations below 0·2 giL, (i.e. approximating to a negative protein dipstick), 14 had increases in either albumin: or RPB: creatinine ratios. Only two patients had increases in both. In the absence of clinical evidence of renal disease, increases in urinary albumin or RBP excretion could indicate subclinical nephropathy and measurements may have a role in the early diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of renal disease in SLE.