Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is severe, chronic autoimmune disease affecting mainly young active individuals, leading to disability and premature death. Recent studies have reported long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to participate in the pathogenesis of the disease. Among lncRNAs, the circular RNAs (circRNAs) gain growing scientific attention due to their stability in body fluids. This makes them suitable for new non-biomarkers for evaluation of SLE activity and promising therapeutic targets. Methods for detecting of circRNAs are evolving rapidly. The aim of this review is to present these techniques and their advantages and disadvantages.
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