How is lupus treated?

Lupus symptoms vary from one person to another. In many cases, the best treatment approach is with a health care team that will tailor treatment to your specific condition.

Currently there is no single test that can definitely say whether a person has lupus or not. Only by comprehensive examination and consideration of symptoms and their history can a diagnosis be achieved.

New research brings unexpected findings each year. The progress made in treatment and diagnosis during the last decade has been greater than that made over the past 100 years. It is therefore a sensible idea to maintain control of a disease that tomorrow may be curable.

Controlling the disease is one thing that makes a huge difference in living with lupus. We can deal better with the challenge of living with this condition by learning all we can about the condition and by being aware of how our own body reacts. Sometimes, flares follow a clear pattern, with the same combination of symptoms every time. An informed patient can watch for warning signs and alert the doctor early on. While false alarms happen, catching a flare in its early stages can make treatment easier and more effective. With this information as a basis, a good working relationship with the doctor is crucial to the success of treatment. The strong support of family and friends can be equally important. Membership in lupus organizations can also be helpful and informative.

A rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints and muscles, generally treats people with lupus. If lupus has caused damage to a particular organ, other specialists will be consulted. For instance,  a dermatologist for cutaneous lupus (skin disease), a cardiologist for heart disease, a nephrologist for kidney disease, a neurologist for brain and nervous system disease, or a gastroenterologist for gastrointestinal tract disease. A woman with lupus who is considering a pregnancy needs an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies.

Once you have been diagnosed with lupus, your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your age, symptoms, general health, and lifestyle. The goals of any treatment plan are to:

    Reduce inflammation caused by lupus
    Suppress your overactive immune system
    Prevent flares, and treat them when they occur
    Control symptoms like joint pain and fatigue
    Minimize damage to organs
    People  with  lupus  often  require  other  drugs  to  treat  conditions  commonly seen  with  the disease.

Examples include:

    Diuretics for fluid retention
    Antihypertensive drugs for high blood pressure
    Anticonvulsants for seizure disorders
    Antibiotics for infections
    Bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis