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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
The bm12 Inducible Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in C57BL/6 Mice
Published on: November 1, 2015
Feasibility and validity were demonstrated of an online case-control study using the prototype of recent-onset
Timothy McAlindon1, Jun Wang, Margaret Formica
1Division of Rheumatology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, 750 Washington Street, Box 406, Boston, MA 02111, USA. tmcalindon@tufts-nemc.org
Objective:
To test the feasibility and validity of the online case-control study design through the empirical deployment of a prototype study of recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Study Design And Setting:
We conducted an Internet-based case-control study of SLE during 2003-2005. The source population comprised Google users searching on medical key terms, solicited using sponsored links. Cases fulfilled a self-administered algorithm for SLE diagnosed within 5 years. A subset underwent confirmation by medical record review. Controls were matched to cases using a propensity score.
Results:
Four hundred and two cases and 693 control applicants finished the questionnaires, yielding 389 matched case-control pairs. Eighty-two percentage of the records documented a clinical diagnosis of SLE, and 61% documented >or=4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE. Control applicants resembled Internet users, with the exceptions of comprising more women (86% vs. 52%) and fewer minority individuals (e.g., 5% vs. 9% for African-Americans). There was a broad representation of clinical manifestations. SLE was associated with miscarriage (odds ratio [OR]=3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.0-4.7), allergy to sulfonamides (OR=2.2, CI=1.5-3.2), hives (OR=1.9, CI=1.4-2.5), and shingles (OR=2.3, CI=1.4-3.7).
Conclusion:
It is possible to perform case-control studies over the Internet using an internally valid design, obtain reliable information from participants, and confirm established associations.
