Lupus Treatment: New ACR Guidelines 2024
- The American College of rheumatology (ACR) has issued updated guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), addressing both adult and pediatric patients. The new recommendations emphasize...
- sammaritano, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, who spearheaded the guideline project, noted that the previous adult SLE management guideline was published in 1999.
- Key recommendations for lupus treatment include the worldwide use of hydroxychloroquine, unless contraindicated, minimizing steroid use, and the early introduction of conventional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
The latest ACR guidelines have overhauled lupus treatment, prioritizing early intervention to improve outcomes. The focus is on the strategic use of DMARDs and minimizing reliance on steroids in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This shift aims to mitigate long-term risks associated with steroid use and bring about better disease control. These updated recommendations, offering crucial insights into the evolving landscape of lupus treatment, underscore the importance of a proactive approach, reflecting advances in rheumatology.Learn how these changes can impact your care; News Directory 3 provides the latest updates. Discover what’s next in lupus management.
ACR Updates Guidelines for Lupus treatment, Emphasizing Early Intervention
Updated June 5, 2025
The American College of rheumatology (ACR) has issued updated guidelines for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), addressing both adult and pediatric patients. The new recommendations emphasize achieving remission or low disease activity while minimizing treatment-related toxicities.
Dr. Lisa R. sammaritano, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, who spearheaded the guideline project, noted that the previous adult SLE management guideline was published in 1999. Since then, the range of available therapies has expanded, alongside a refined understanding of rheumatology therapies.
Key recommendations for lupus treatment include the worldwide use of hydroxychloroquine, unless contraindicated, minimizing steroid use, and the early introduction of conventional or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
The guideline summary, available on the ACR website, advises that patients with controlled SLE symptoms on prednisone doses exceeding 5 mg daily shoudl aim to reduce their dosage to 5 mg or lower, ideally to zero, within six months of starting steroid treatment.
“The goal is to limit peopel’s exposure to long-term, high-dose steroids due to the many associated side effects,” Sammaritano said. “starting at a moderate or high dose is often necessary for a flare, but we encourage a fairly rapid taper — ie, over 6 months. Usually that means adding a steroid-sparing medicine like mycophenolate or one of the other immunosuppressive medicines we have available.”
Dr. Karen H. Costenbader, director of the Lupus Program at Brigham and Women’