A young woman confronted with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can expect lifelong complications arising from the disease itself, as well as the therapies used to treat this condition. About 50–70 per cent of SLE patients experience inflammation of the kidneys. As such, the young woman can expect to be treated with high doses of corticosteroids, often accompanied by the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide. Unfortunately, the prednisone and cyclophosphamide treatment often results in an initial improvement, but more than 50 per cent of SLE patients will experience a disease flare again within 2 years. Moreover, serious complications of high-dose corticosteroid and cytoxan therapy in SLE patients include osteoporosis, aseptic necrosis, hypertension, diabetes, opportunistic.
