The genetic contribution to systemic lupus erythematosus.

We are currently witnessing an explosion of information about the genetic contribution to complex human diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These genetic discoveries have profound implications for efforts to more fully characterize etiologic pathways and mechanisms. Further, these etiologic insights should lead to improved diagnostic and prognostic tools and inform the development of more specific therapies for SLE and related conditions. The article summarizes the evidence supporting a role for genetic factors in SLE, highlights the clinical and genetic complexity of the disease, reviews the genes that have established contributions to the risk of SLE and specific disease manifestations, and discusses the recent data emerging from genomewide association studies of SLE.