The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between the p53 suppressor gene codon 72 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our study population consisted of 513 SLE patients and 567 healthy controls. All the individuals were of Spanish Caucasian origin. Genotyping of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism was performed by allele-specific PCR. No statistically significant differences were observed between SLE patients and healthy controls when p53 codon 72 genotype and allele frequencies were compared. In addition, no evidence for association with clinical subfeatures of SLE was found. In conclusion, the p53 codon 72 polymorphism associated with SLE in a Korean population does not appear to play a major role in the susceptibility or severity of SLE in the Spanish population.