What is the drug of choice for treating systemic lupus erythematosus?

The first choice for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus is the antimalarial drug, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, which is effective for rash, low fever, arthritis, mild pleurisy, pericarditis, mild anemia and decreased white blood cell count, and combined Sjogren's syndrome. Patients with ophthalmia should be used with caution. Long-term application is effective in reducing the dose of hormones and maintaining remission of the condition. The main adverse effects are cardiac conduction disorders and retinal pigmentation, which require regular ECG and ophthalmology examinations. In addition, glucocorticoids need to be selected according to the condition. The adverse effects of hormones include diabetes, hypertension, low resistance, various infections, stress ulcers, osteoporosis, aseptic osteonecrosis and growth retardation in children.