I found this the other day

[Guest guest]

I have started noticing the subject of family members having lupus

also and I accidentally stumbled on this research site the other

day. My rhuemetoligist thinks my grandmother had lupus but was never

diagnosed in her time. Now it seems my 15 year old daughter has

symptoms. If anyone oot their has diagnosed cases of familiar lupus

this research will only help the

cure. The Lupus

Genetic Studies, housed at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation

(OMRF) in Oklahoma City, OK and sponsored by the National Institute

of Arthritis and

Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), are seeking additional

families with 2 or

more members diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, aka SLE or

lupus, to

participate in genetic research. The Lupus Genetic Studies are

working to find the genes

that help cause SLE. By working with families with two or more blood-

related SLE

patients, the studies are able to find shared genes that may be

responsible for lupus. By

enrolling as many families as possible into the studies, researchers

are able to confirm

recent findings and better pinpoint suspected lupus genes.

Participation involves a phone interview with the SLE patients

regarding their symptoms

and lupus physicians, permitting the study to request medical

records relating to SLE,

completing some study paperwork (questionnaires, consent forms and

such) and

donating a 1-time blood sample. In addition to the participation of

SLE patients, the study

requests the participation of certain additional family members (ie-

parents and/or siblings

of SLE patients, etc.) as well as a healthy, unrelated person (a

control) per SLE patient,

by means of blood sample donation and completion of study paperwork.

The study pays

for the drawing and shipping of the samples and nominal compensation

is available to

participants who completely participate in the study. No treatment

is available through the

study and participation is completely voluntary.

Individuals interested in contacting the Lupus Genetic Studies for

more information may

call toll free at 1- (1-888-OK-LUPUS) or visit and email

a recruiter from our

website at www.lupus.omrf.ouhsc.edu.

Please tell the good people @ OMRF that you read about it on the

Oklahoma Lupus Association web site--WWW.OKLUPUS.COM