Objective: To study the lipid profile in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to correlate it with various disease activity parameters.Patients and methods: 48 female SLE patients fulfilling the updated ACR 1997 revised criteria for classification of SLE were subjected to: Full history taking, clinical examination and routine laboratory tests to assess SLE including: Complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver function tests, kidney function tests, complement components, complete urine analysis and fasting lipid profile. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were measured in plasma by the calometric method. High density lipid cholesterol (HDL-C) was measured using direct HDL method (Hitachi 917). Low density lipid cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipid cholesterol (VLDL) were calculated using formulas LDL-C= TC – (TG/2.2+ HDL-C) and VLDL= TG 0.45. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. Results: Hypercholesterolemia (>200mg/dl) was present in 23 patients (47.9%). Lupus nephritis was detected in 38 patients (79.1%), hematological disorders were found in 33 patients (68.75%), joint affection in 27 patients (56.3%), muco-cutaneous lesions in 25 patients (52%), hypertension in 24 patients (50%), respiratory affection and Raynauds' in 15 patients each (31.3%) and cardiovascular affection in 6 patients (12.5%). Systemic lupus activity measure (SLAM) index correlated significantly with TG (r=0.295, p=0.041) and with VLDL (r=0.296, p=0.041) respectively. A significant negative correlation was found between SLAM and C3 level (r=-0.403, p=0.004) and between SLAM and administration of antimalarial drugs (r=-0.0297, p=0.041). HDL-C was negatively correlated with the SLAM score, however, the correlation