Lupus Erythematosus: Treatments

As different as the lupus symptoms are, the therapy of the disease is tailored individually. Therapy depends on the symptoms and the course of the lupus. This means, for example, that antibodies detected in the blood alone do not justify therapy for lupus erythematosus or SLE. Especially since many of the drugs used in SLE are well effective in therapy, but a number can have side effects, some of them serious.

Lupus therapy in SLE

When symptoms on the skin are mild, only these are treated by skin cream during therapy. In particular, this is true for therapy of discoid lupus.

In systemic lupus (SLE), four groups of drugs are used in principle in therapy, which – depending on the extent of symptoms and organ involvement – build on each other in stages. Many of these therapeutic agents are used for treatment not only in SLE but also in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which help primarily with the pain in joints and muscles caused by inflammation in lupus.
  • Basic therapy with chloroquine – a drug that is also used for malaria.
  • Cortisone preparations have an anti-inflammatory effect and are often combined with chloroquine.
  • Immunosuppressants are used in therapy when the symptoms do not improve with the other means or organs are involved. They sometimes have severe side effects, so their use must be well weighed and under close control. The agent most commonly used in lupus is azathioprine; cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil are also often used. Cytostatic agents such as cyclophosphamide or methotrexate are also used in SLE, as is thalidomide.

Lupus: therapy in CDLE and SCLE.

In discoid lupus (CDLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), short-term topical ointment treatment with cortisone preparations (often with an overnight dressing) is usually sufficient as a measure of therapy.

In more severe cases of these types of lupus, the drug is also injected locally. In addition, local treatment with liquid nitrogen can also cause the skin lesions to heal.

If these methods are not sufficient, additional antimalarial drugs are given as a measure within the therapy.

Complementary therapy for lupus

If the inflammation affects the joints, temporary immobilization and local cold treatment often help. In severe courses and threatening bed confinement, usual measures for thrombosis and embolism prophylaxis are also used in lupus therapy.