Methods:

The study was a case-control study carried out on 100 recently diagnosed SLE patients compared to 100 control subjects. The study of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was performed by a polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results and Discussion:

A higher frequency of ‘G’allele in SLE (38.5%) versus control (32%) was noticed; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.174). Besides, a slightly higher frequency of G/G genotype was found in SLE (22%) vs. control (12%); again, this difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.157). A statistically significantly higher proportion of arthritis, serositis, and thrombocytopenia was observed in the A/A genotype (p= 0.010, 0.032, and 0.036, respectively). Furthermore, we noticed a statistically significant lower hemoglobin level in G/G genotype (p= 0.027). Otherwise, there was no statistically significant difference between the three genotypes regarding other parameters: photosensitivity, malar rash, oral ulceration, ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody, anemia, leucopenia, neurologic manifestations, and all lab parameters except hemoglobin level. Similar results were reported previously.