In a South African SLE cohort of 45 Black patients compared to 74 ethnically matched controls, the reported prevalence of HLA-DRB1*02 is was increased in SLE cases (OR: 3.7) and was associated with serum anti-Ro antibodies (Rudwaleit et al., 1995). This evidence concerns the gene HLA-DRB1 and systemic lupus erythematosus.