The DR6 (DRB1*13 and *14) allele carrier frequency was significantly lower in SLE (P = 4.34×10−5, OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37–0.70), but DR2 (DRB1*15 and *16) was not different (P = 0.1743, OR 1.23). Here, HLA-DRB1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.