Objective To evaluate renal vascular damage (RVLs) and detect the expression of miR-145 in children with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods Clinical data of 41 cases of LN diagnosed by renal biopsy from the children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were collected. Glomerular damage score and RVLs were evaluated. The children were divided into groups according to RVLs score and pathological pattern. In situ hybridization was performed to detect the expression of miR-145 in kidney blood vessel. Differences in RVLs, miR-145 expression in the renal blood vessels and glomerular damage score were observed among the groups with different renal pathological pattern. Differences in clinical parameters, glomerular damage score and miR-145 expression in the renal blood vessels were investigated among groups with different RVLs. Results Among the groups with different pathological pattern, there was no difference in RVLs (P > 0.05) while significant different were found in the expression of miR-145 and glomerular damage score (P < 0.01). Among the groups with different RVLs, both clinical indexes and glomerular damage score were similar (P > 0.05) while a statistical different was found in the expression of miR-145 (P < 0.01). Conclusions Children with LN had RVLs and the miR-145 may be involved in development of RVLs.