Bae SC, et al. - In this study, researchers systematically reviewed evidence concerning the correlation between CD40 polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus and between soluble CD40 (sCD40) and CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels and systemic lupus erythematosus. Fourteen studies were involved. An important relationship between the T allele of CD40 rs4810485 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus in Europeans and a trend toward a relationship between the T allele and systemic lupus erythematosus in Asians were shown. Moreover, a notable correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus and the C allele of CD40 rs1883832 polymorphism and A allele of CD40rs3765456 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus in Asians were reported. In SLE vs controls, sCD40 and sCD40L levels were considerably greater. In the systemic lupus erythematosus group amongst European, Asian, North American, and Arab communities, stratification on the basis of ethnicity exhibited greater sCD40L levels. Therefore, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, in comparison with controls, these meta-analyses determined relationships between CD40 rs4810495, rs1883832, and rs376545 polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility and markedly higher sCD40 and sCD40L levels.