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Histones are essential for the folding of DNA into nucleosomes and chromatin formation in eukaryotes. A nucleosome consists of approximately 146 base pairs of DNA wrapped around a histone octamer comprising of pairs of the core histones (H2A, H2B, H3 and H4). The nucleosomes are further compacted through interaction with the linker histone H1. Antibodies to histones (AHA) are commonly found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Autoantibodies to total histones are elicited by unknown mechanisms in patients treated with certain drugs, particularly procainamide, hydralazine, quinidine, alpha methyldopa, penicillamine, and isoniazid. Anti-histone autoantibodies that are found in 50%-70% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in more than 95% of patients with drug-induced lupus erythematosus.