Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Key points

• In SLE the immune system turns on the body’s own healthy tissue, with flares in joints, skin, kidneys, heart or nerves separated by calmer spells.
• It affects women of childbearing age far more often than men, with sun, infection, stress and hormonal shifts among the recognised triggers.
• Hydroxychloroquine, taken continuously rather than only in flares, cuts flare frequency and organ-damage risk, while azathioprine helps control more severe disease.

What drives flares and how SLE is managed

No single trigger causes SLE, but sun exposure, infections, stress, and hormonal changes are well-recognised provocateurs. Long-term management aims to prevent flares, protect organs, and keep the immune response calibrated without suppressing it entirely.

Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial that also belongs to the broader antiparasitic class, is a cornerstone treatment for SLE: it reduces flare frequency, lowers the risk of organ damage, and is used continuously rather than only during attacks. For more severe or refractory disease, azathioprine, an immunosuppressant within the autoimmune support category, helps control inflammation and allows lower doses of corticosteroids over time.

If you develop chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, blood in urine, or a severe headache during a flare, seek medical attention promptly, as these can signal serious organ involvement.

Further reading

• Lupus - NHS
• Lupus - diagnosis, treatment, symptoms and causes - Healthdirect