Antimalarial therapy: a panacea for mild lupus?

Antimalarial therapy has a long and successful track record in the management of patients with mild SLE. Medium to long term use of hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with mepacrine, ameliorates lupus and may reduce the relapse rate. Recent guidelines for monitoring hydroxychloroquine have reduced the need for frequent visual checks. Antimalarials have other beneficial effects on lipid and glucose metabolism as well as having weak anticoagulant activity. They should be considered for most patients with mild lupus.