All 67 patients were required to fulfill the 1982 ACR revised criteria for SLE and have active/refractory disease manifestations, detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies, and low C3 or C4 serum levels; exclusion criteria were severe lupus nephritis (LN), severe active neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), potentially life-threatening SLE manifestations, and ongoing or planned pregnancy. The gene discussed is C4A; the disease is systemic lupus erythematosus.