Does family history in first cousin (or other non-first-degree relatives) increase risk for autoimmune diseases such as lupus, scleroderma, ra?

Yes: If you have autoimmune disease in your family - you are at increase risk to also develop Autoimmune diseases also seem to have a genetic component, but, mysteriously, they can cluster in families as different illnesses. For example, a mother may have lupus erythematosus; her daughter, diabetes; her grandmother, rheumatoid arthritis. Research is shedding light on genetic, as well as hormonal and environmental risk factors that contribute to the causes of these diseases.