Treatment of SLE Hydroxychloroquine (an antimalarial) for all patients with SLE Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in addition to antimalarials for mild disease Corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and antimalarials for severe disease To simplify therapy, SLE should be classified as mild to moderate (eg, fever, arthritis, pleurisy, pericarditis, rash) or severe (eg, hemolytic anemia, severe thrombocytopenic purpura, massive pleural and pericardial involvement, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage or pneumonitis, nephritis, acute vasculitis of the extremities or gastrointestinal tract, florid central nervous system [CNS] involvement).