What Is Systemic Lupus?
6. Treatment
The goal of treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus is to manage symptoms. This is usually accomplished through medication. Because SLE is an autoimmune disorder, patients sometimes benefit from immunosuppressant therapy. Methotrexate and cyclophosphamide are chemotherapy drugs found to be effective at treating SLE by reducing immune system activity.
To reduce inflammation, doctors sometimes prescribe steroids or corticosteroids to treat SLE. Originally used to treat malaria, hydroxychloroquine can be very effective at treating joint pain and skin lesions. Hydroxychloroquine should not be taken for conditions that it is not approved to treat.
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