Jaccoud’s arthropathy (JA) is a chronic, deforming, non-erosive arthropathy occurring in a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this research we aimed to evaluate clinical and immunological features in patients with SLE complicated by JA. Eighty seven consecutive SLE patients with a history of arthritis were included in the present study. These patients were subdivided according to ‘‘Jaccoud’s arthropathy index’’ as follows: non-deforming arthropathy, mild deforming and definite Jaccoud. Demographic data, disease activity and disability were recorded. Rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cardiolipin antibodies (ACL), antiSSA/Ro, and anti SSB/La antibodies, were assessed in all patients. We found clinical deforming arthropathy in 12 patients, among whom seven had definite JA. Both the mean duration of the disease and of arthritis were longer in the JA group compared to the non-deforming arthropathy group. JA patients presented a trend toward a lower quality of life. The prevalence of Sicca syndrome (SS) and antiphosph