Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) remains the prototypic autoimmune disease. Recent data show that its incidence has tripled since 1970 and its prevalence is 1 in 800 in Rochester, Minnesota. The natural history of lupus in our cohort is one of (1) relapsing/ remitting or (2) chronic activity, with only 17 percent of patients having periods of long quiescence. Over 75 percent of our African-American patients and 50 percent of our Caucasian patients have renal (kidney) involvement. Over 50 percent suffer permanent damage in one or more organ systems, and over 15 percent have renal failure.