In this study we analyzed eight polymorphisms of microsatellite loci at 6p21.3–21.4 spanning HLA region: D6S291, D6S273, TNFa, b and c, major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), D6S265 and D6S276, in 87 SLE patients compared to 123 healthy individuals recruited from the south of Tunisia and this in order to investigate any eventual new susceptibility or prognostic markers of SLE. Here, TNF is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus.