synthetic peptides based on a complementarity - determining region of the heavy or light chain of a pathogenic anti - dna monoclonal antibody that induces a systemic lupus erythematosus - like disease in mice , and analogs , and salts and chemical derivatives thereof ; dual peptides comprising two such peptides or analogs covalently linked to one another either directly or through a short linking chain ; peptide polymers comprising a plurality of sequences of said peptide or analog thereof ; and peptide polymers attached to a macromolecular carrier , are disclosed , and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them for the treatment of sle in humans .