Antimalarial agents and lupus.

Antimalarials are under-utilized, disease-modifying agents that are useful in the management of lupus erythematosus. Antimalarials can promote a remission in non-organ-threatening lupus and decrease its risk of dissemination. They are especially useful for cutaneous and inflammatory joint disease and have modest actions in improving serositis, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. As agents that do not depress the bone marrow or promote opportunistic infections, antimalarials have potential applications in combination with other antilupus medications and with each other.