Prevention and management of co-morbidities in SLE

The prognosis and survival of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have improved over the past few decades. The major cause of death is no longer active lupus, but instead cardiovascular disease, complications of renal failure, and malignancy. Co-morbid factors, including both traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors, can be targeted according to accepted guidelines. We will emphasize the deleterious effect of corticosteroids in contributing to cardiovascular risk and the need to shift maintenance prednisone doses to a much lower threshold.