Two SLE subgroups previously described to be at high CVD risk; 1) patients with nephritis and 2) patients with anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL), and one subgroup reported to be at comparatively lower CVD risk; patients positive for Sjögren ́s syndrome antigens A/B (SSA/SSB) antibodies were analyzed separately in comparison with their respective matched controls. Here, FASLG is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.