Understanding lupus causes and disease progression in patients and families

Plain-English translation of NCT00001372 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ·

What is this trial?

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are studying systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) to understand why it develops and how it damages the body over time. They're asking people with lupus, their family members, and healthy volunteers to participate by providing blood, skin, and urine samples for genetic and laboratory studies. Some participants will also have heart and blood vessel imaging done to help identify what causes lupus-related damage.

Lupus is a serious disease that affects many people, especially women and certain racial groups, and researchers don't fully understand why some people get it or why it damages organs differently in different patients. By studying patients, their families, and healthy people together, scientists hope to discover the root causes of lupus and find better ways to predict and prevent organ damage.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with lupus or have suspected lupus confirmed by standard medical criteria
you are able to give informed consent and commit to follow-up visits
you are at least 3 years old (or 18+ if you're a healthy volunteer for vascular studies)
you are a first or second-degree relative of someone with lupus (family members can participate for genetic studies)
you are a healthy volunteer without lupus who can provide comparison samples

You likely don't qualify if…

you have HIV, active cancer, or other serious medical conditions that could interfere with the study results
you are unable or unwilling to attend follow-up visits due to distance, physical limitations, or other barriers
you have implanted devices like pacemakers, neural stimulators, or cochlear implants that are not MRI-safe (if you're having heart imaging)
you have an active condition that requires urgent medical or surgical care
you are unwilling to provide blood, tissue, or urine samples for research

What participation looks like

If you join, you'll visit the NIH Clinical Center for a physical exam and blood work to check your lupus activity and overall health. You'll provide blood, urine, and possibly skin samples that researchers will study for genetic clues and disease patterns. Some participants will also have heart and blood vessel imaging tests, and you may be invited to join additional related studies—all at no cost, and coordinated with your regular doctor's care.

Understanding lupus causes and disease progression in patients and families

What is this trial?

Do you qualify?

What participation looks like

Trial locations(1 site)