Are people with lupus more prone to infections even if they are not taking immunosuppressive drugs?
There is some evidence that people with lupus are more likely to get infections than completely healthy people, even when they are not taking corticosteroids (prednisone and similar medications). The most common infections are in the respiratory tract (colds, sore throats, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia), the urinary tract (bladder or kidney infections), and the skin (boils, cellulitis, and infected cuts). If a person with lupus is taking corticosteroids every day, particularly more than 10 mg a day, the risk of infection goes up considerably. However, if a person can take corticosteroid doses once in the morning every other day — instead of every day — there is not much, if any, increase in the risk for infections. Of course, every-other-day treatment does not control active lupus as well as every day. Other medications used for moderate to severe forms of lupus, such as azathioprine (Imuran), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), increase infection
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