Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation and pain throughout the body. There is no cure for lupus, but it can be controlled and treated.
Goals of lupus treatment
Manage symptoms
Lupus symptoms, such as muscle pain, fever, rashes, fatigue, hair loss, and eye problems, can interfere with daily life.
Reduce inflammation
The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Prevent flare-ups
Flare-ups can be mild or they can be severe enough to be life-altering (or even life-threatening).
Minimize organ damage
Lupus can cause significant, irreversible damage to the kidneys, lungs, and other organs.
Lupus flares can increase a person’s risk of organ damage.
Types of lupus treatment
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — used to reduce inflammation, pain and fever
- steroids — work quickly to decrease pain and inflammation by curbing overactive white blood cells
- Antimalarials (medicines used to treat malaria) — manage symptoms and flares by reducing proteins in the blood that attack healthy cells
- B-lymphocyte-stimulating protein (BLyS) inhibitor — a type of medicine known as a biologic that can reduce the number of abnormal B cells thought to be a problem for people with lupus
- Immunosuppressants (including some chemotherapy drugs) — helps prevent your immune system from attacking healthy tissue in your body
- Changes in lifestyle — staying out of the sun and reducing stress can help keep your symptoms under control
Complications related to lupus may need their own treatments, such as:
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Antibiotics for infections.
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Statins for high cholesterol
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Anticonvulsants for seizures
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Vitamin D for kidney problems
Lupus management
Some lifestyle changes can help keep lupus under better control.
Protect yourself from the sun
Lower your stress
Sleep well
Perform low-impact physical activity.
do not smoke
Finding the right treatment
Lupus is a complicated disease that affects each person differently. Therefore, it is important that scientists continue to learn and develop treatments for lupus.
It is also important that you defend your rights. Talk to your healthcare provider about developing an individualized treatment plan to help you live your best life.
This educational resource was created with the support of Novartis, a member of the HealthyWomen 2023 Corporate Advisory Board.
