This is the first multi-center cohort study to investigate the predictors for AVN in Chinese SLE patients and found early disease onset of SLE, arthritis, existing organ damage (SDI≥1) at registration, positive anti-RNP, and high maximum daily dose of glucocorticoids as independent risk factors, and developed a risk scoring system, which can help stratify patients at high risk for AVN and facilitate clinical decision making for disease surveillance and intervention. This evidence concerns the gene RNPC3 and arthritic joint disease.