There was no significant association between the ESR1 XbaI polymorphism and SLE susceptibility in the overall analysis, but the GG/GA genotype was associated with SLE susceptibility in Asians (GG/GA vs. AA: OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01–1.67, P = 0.04). Here, ESR1 is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.