How is Lupus Treated?

You may need special kinds of doctors to treat the many symptoms of lupus. Your health care team may include:

• A family doctor
• Rheumatologists - doctors who treat arthritis and other diseases that cause swelling in the joints
• Clinical immunologists - doctors who treat immune system disorders
• Nephrologists - doctors who treat kidney disease
• Hematologists - doctors who treat blood disorders
• Dermatologists - doctors who treat skin diseases
• Neurologists - doctors who treat problems with the nervous system
• Nurses
• Psychologists
• Social workers

Your doctor will develop a treatment plan to fit your needs. You and your doctor should review the plan often to be sure it is working. You should report new symptoms to your doctor right away so that treatment can be changed if needed.

The goals of the treatment plan are to:

• Prevent flares
• Treat flares when they occur
• Reduce organ damage and other problems

Treatments may include drugs to:

• Reduce swelling and pain
• Prevent or reduce flares
• Calm the immune system
• Reduce or prevent damage to joints.

Alternative treatments are those that are not part of standard treatment. No research shows that this kind of treatment works for people with lupus. You should talk to your doctor about alternative treatments.

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EditText of this page (last edited November 5, 2009)