This study is currently enrolling individuals who have an established diagnosis of SLE to participate. There is no cost to volunteers who participate and the study pays for the visits to the clinics for monthly collection of clinical information and blood and urine samples. Women who are or become pregnant may participate in the study with the recommendation of their health care providers and the study doctors.

primary care clinic

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individual has met the diagnostic criteria for SLE (at least 4 out of the 11) American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and:

• Has experienced specific manifestations of lupus disease activity within the last 12 months including the following:

  • Lupus nephritis (kidney disease); vasculitis and or central nervous system involvement and/or:
  • Required treatment with at least 20 mg per day of prednisone (or equivalent) and/or:
  • Required hospitalization directly due to SLE disease

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects unable or unlikely to cooperate with the procedures of the protocol
• Substance abuse / dependence that in the opinion of the investigator could compromise the subject's ability to complete the study
• Subject with a more dominant autoimmune disease, e.g. Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, multiple sclerosis, scleroderma
• History of malignancy within the last five years with the exception of basal cell carcinoma
• Active infection: Known HIV positive status, currently active tuberculosis , active infection receiving antibiotics
• Had tissue or organ transplantation (including bone marrow)
• On chronic hemo- or peritoneal dialysis