100 consecutive Chinese patients with SLE were recruited for study of HLA-A, B and DR antigen. Clinical and serological parameters were analysed with respect to the HLA antigens. B5 was associated with presence of other autoimmune diseases (thyrotoxicosis, myasthenia gravis, diabetes mellitus, corrected p less than 0.025); absence of malar rash (corrected p less than 0.025); B35, with male sex (corrected p less than 0.025); DR2 with anti-Ro (anti-SSA) antibody (p less than 0.05). Previous study of association with B13, B17 was not present in our cohort. Except for malar rash, subclassification of disease status with respect to HLA antigen did not reveal significant association.