Neither increased hsCRP nor plasma levels of the cytokines, most frequently correlated with atherosclerosis in previous studies in lupus, including interleukins (IL), IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17; interferon (IFN) alpha and gamma, adhesion molecules, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) or P-selectin, exhibited significant associations with subclinical atherosclerosis. The gene discussed is SELP; the disease is atherosclerosis.