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The treatment and management of lupus is centered around drugs to minimize disease activity and prevent flare-ups. Because the cause is unknown, its inflammatory mechanisms are the target of medication.
Lupus is a chronic, lifelong disease. Many people with lupus lead relatively normal lives; some are moderately debilitated and a few are very ill. Early attention to your lifestyle can help minimize the effects of lupus.
The most dangerous complication of lupus is lupus nephritis, which can destroy your kidney function and require dialysis or a transplant to keep you alive. Current medications help prevent this complication.
Treatment involves the following:
Surgery is not a standard treatment option for lupus. However, if you have lupus nephritis and it leads to kidney failure, you may need to have a kidney transplant.
References:
American College of Rheumatology website. Available at: http://www.rheumatology.org/ .
