Reynolds JA, et al. - Via the Lupus Extended Autoimmune Phenotype (LEAP) cohort of 164 patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARDs), the researchers investigated the relationships between interferon alpha (IFNα) and the clinical and serological phenotype to assess whether it could identify a distinct subpopulation of patients. No differences in mucocutaneous or internal organ involvement were noted between the interferon-stimulated gene subgroups. Association between IFNα-positivity and specific autoantibodies and hematological parameters were found in SARD patients which could not be estimated with other clinical features. However, derivation of IFNα production via different pathways in individual patients could be exhibited. Further, a pathology-based approach to treatment was supported by the identification of an IFNα-positive subgroup within a mixed SARD cohort.