Prevention and management of co-morbidities in SLE

SummaryThe 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 The major cause of death is no longer active lupus, but instead cardiovascular disease, complications of renal failure, and malignancy.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.In this issueSo much hope for lupus, at lastFrédéric A. Houssiau, Brussels, BelgiumWhere is lupus hidden?Falk Hiepe, Berlin, GermanyWhy and how should we measure disease activity and damage in lupus?Joy Feld and David Isenberg, London, United KingdomWhich dose of steroids and which cytotoxics for severe lupus?Pamela Lutalo et al., London, United KingdomHydroxychloroquine: a multifaceted treatment in lupusNathalie Costedoat-Chalumeau et al., Paris, FranceWhen biologics should be used in systemic lupus erythematosus?Jacques-Eric Gottenberg et al., Strasbourg, FrancePrevention and management of co-morbidities in SLETanmayee Bichile and Michelle Petri, Baltimore, United StatesWhat matters for lupus patients?Gamal Chehab et al., Hamburg, GermanyChallenges for lupus management in emerging countriesZoubida Tazi Mezalek and Wafa Bono, Rabat, Morocco