Review
Studies of twins with systemic lupus erythematosus: A review of the literature and presentation of 12 additional sets

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Abstract

To assess the role of genetic factors in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 12 twin pairs (seven definitely monozygotic, three definitely dizygotic) of which one or both twins had SLE, were studied and compared to 17 twin pairs (12 definitely monozygotic) previously described. In the present series, four of seven (57 per cent) definitely monozygotic pairs were clinically concordant for SLE, satisfying the preliminary criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (ARA). Concordance for the presence of antinuclear factor (ANF) and hypergammaglobulinemia was 71 and 87 per cent, respectively. These data closely agree with those on the 12 definitely monozygotic sets previously described. All three of the dizygotic sets in the present series were discordant for clinical SLE, although one clinically well twin had marked serologie abnormalities.

Comparison of these data with those from other first degree relatives of our twins clearly suggests a strong genetic component in the pathogenesis of SLE. The relative contribution of nongenetic and environmental factors to the expression of the disease is discussed.

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    Present address: Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, Maine 04401.

    1

    From the Department of Medicine, the Hospital for Special Surgery, affiliated with the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York; Rockefeller University, New York, New York; and the Catholic Medical Center affiliated with the Queens Hospital Center, New York, New York.

    2

    From the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York.

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