Abstract
We attempted to evaluate the effect of immunosuppressants on the clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The subject was 100 patients (10 males and 90 females), who could be followed up from the start of corticosteroid treatment and for more than 6 months after the start of the maintenance therapy (prednisolone 15 mg/day). They were divided into two groups: the one treated with corticosteroid alone (group S) and the other treated with corticosteroid and immunosuppressants for more than 12 weeks (group I).
Although the relapse and motality rate were not significantly different between two groups in both initial and relapse treatment, the period from the start of maintenance therapy to the relapse was longer in group I than in group S in relapse treatment.
Occurrence of severe infection and malignancy was not significantly different between two groups. In 19 patients studied by serial renal biopsies, immunosuppressive treatment could not improve the histological changes and urine protein excretions.
In conclusion, immunosuppressants seems to be significantly effective on the course.
