The medical treatment of Lupus is designed to target the body systems that are inflamed. If only joints and skin are involved, the treatment could be limited to non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs and chloroquine derivatives.
However, if lungs, heart, kidney or brain are involved, corticosteroids would become the basis of treatment. In addition, immunosuppressive medications, such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide, would be prescribed either orally or intravenously.