A computer analysis of 234 patients with SLE followed for an average of 31 months revealed 22 patients with aseptic necrosis of bone (AN) (9%), with projected frequency approaching 30% at 10-15 years of follow-up. Most patients developed between four and seven years after diagnosis of SLE. When compared to all other patients with SLE and no AN or to three computer-selected groups matched by age of SLE diagnosis, duration of disease, or cumulative corticosteroid dose, AN did not correlate with any of the preliminary ARA criteria, total number of criteria fulfilled, renal disease, skin vasculitis, or disease activity. Although all patients received corticosteroid therapy prior to development of AN, no correlation was found with duration, peak dose, or cumulative dose of corticosteroid therapy.