GENETIC AND FAMILY STUDIES IN SYSTEMIC
LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
Study Rationale:
With this research,
we hope to identify specific genes or DNA markers, associated with SLE,
the various manifestations of the disease, and susceptibility for
developing SLE. In order to further study the role of the genes in
disease, we need to study families in whom more than one member is affected
with lupus. Such families are being studied in several other centres
around the world. This study is costly in that we need to evaluate
the family members for the presence of lupus. This requires a clinical
assessment as well as blood tests necessary to confirm the diagnosis of
lupus. Then we need to isolate the DNA from blood of the patient
and family member, and proceed with a search for the gene. It is
very important that we have the correct evaluation of the patients and
their relatives. We are particularly interested in our patients
families, since patients followed at our clinic have been well characterized
in terms of their own disease. We hope that the patients and their
family members will help us find the gene for lupus.
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