Patent ID: 7022476

Claim:
A method for assessing whether an individual has or is susceptible to development of systemic lupus erythematosus comprising comparing (a) a test polymorphic pattern comprising at least one polymorphic position within an FcγRIIB promoter gene of the individual, with (b) a reference polymorphic pattern derived from a population of individuals having systemic lupus erythematosus. wherein the reference polymorphic pattern comprises a C residue at position −385 and/or an A residue at position −119; and (c) concluding whether the individual is susceptible to development of systemic lupus erythematosus wherein identity between at least one polymorphism included in the test polymorphic pattern and at least one polymorphism included in the reference polymorphic pattern indicates that the individual has or is susceptible to development of systemic lupus erythematosus.