How can SLE be treated ?
Cutaneous Lupus Responses to chloroquine and quinacrine are usually demonstrable within 1 to 3 months; responses to hydroxychloroquine may require 3 to 6 months. Antimalarials may be steroid sparing. Recommended initial doses of antimalarials are hydroxychloroquine, 400 mg daily, chloroquine phosphate, 500 mg daily, and quinacrine, 100 mg daily. Higher doses can be given for brief periods (2 to 4 weeks). After disease is well controlled, the drugs can be slowly tapered. Daily doses can be reduced, or the drug can be given less frequently (e.g., a few days each week). The combination of hydroxychloroquine (or chloroquine) and quinacrine is probably synergistic and can be used in patients refractory to single-drug therapy. Toxicities of these agents are important but infrequent in comparison with other agents used to treat SLE. Retinal damage is the most important; it can occur in up to 10 percent of patients receiving chronic chloroquine therapy but is much less frequent in those receiv
