Vitamin D Therapy in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Inclusion Criteria: * SLE by ACR criteria (revised 1997) * African American, participating in the SLE in Gullah Health (SLEIGH) Study * Outpatient * Stable disease with no BILAG A or B in any system for the past 4 weeks * Stable prednisone (or equivalent corticosteroid) dose ≤ 20 mg/day for ≥ 4 weeks prior to study entry * Baseline 25(OH)D concentration of \< 30 ng/ml * Willingness to discontinue other vitamin D supplements and/or multivitamins containing vitamin D while participating in the study * Age 18 - 85 years * Ability to complete questionnaires in English * Ability to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of hypercalcemia (\>10.4 mg/dL), hypercalcuria (urinary calcium/creatinine ratio ≥ 0.8 mmol/mmol) or known primary hyperparathyroidism * Liver disease (serum ALT, AST \>2x normal) or total serum bilirubin \>1.5x normal * History of renal stones * Current treatment with any dose of cyclophosphamide * Dialysis or creatinine \> 2.5 mg/dL * Pregnancy * Current drug or alcohol abuse * Anticipated poor compliance