Objective: To analyse the scientific production and collaboration networks on publications in systemic lupus erythematosus in Latin America. Materials and methods: Bibliometric study between 1982 and 2018 of journals indexed in Scopus. Data were analysed by annual production and a co-occurrence analysis of the collaboration between countries with VOSviewer was plotted. Results: 3,843 related documents on systemic lupus erythematosus were recorded between 1982 and 2018 in Scopus. An increasing trend was observed, with a significant increase in the last 20 years, the original articles being the highest percentage (75.4%). Eleven Latin American countries were identified in collaboration with 29 extra-regional countries, with Brazil, Mexico and Argentina having the highest production and scientific collaboration, mainly with the United States and Spain. Conclusion: In Latin America, there is a sustained increase in research on systemic lupus erythematosus. Brazil and Mexico generated more than half the publications and are the main collaboration network together with Argentina.