What are some of the main medical treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus?

Medical treatments for SLE are highly individualized and depend on factors like a person’s age, lifestyle, disease symptoms/severity, specific organ involvement, previous responses to treatments, reproductive plans, concurrent disease(s), and personal preferences. Some common medications used to treat SLE include anti-inflammatory agents, antimalarials, immune modulators, immunosuppressants, and steroids. Antimalarials (specifically hydroxychloroquine) are often the primary medical treatment, as they reduce SLE symptoms and rarely cause serious adverse events.^[1][2][3]

The goal with treatment is to achieve remission of symptoms, minimize tissue damage, and improve quality of life. To this end, medications can be used alone or in combination, and dosages are increased or decreased depending on disease severity and personal tolerance. Disease activity is monitored regularly to guide the treatment plan.