This study presents the first GWAS of LN among individuals with SLE. This study is particularly notable because it incorporates genetic data across the three largest GWAS of SLE in individuals of European descent, focuses on unrelated women, and assesses the biologic relevance of genes in proximity of the genetic associations. Given that the frequency of LN among individuals diagnosed with SLE is high, a GWAS of patients with LN versus healthy controls will detect SLE- predisposing loci that do not influence the risk of nephritis. Thus, the study design reported contrasts LN patients with lupus patients without nephritis.