With proper treatment, lupus can go into remission for years at a time. But right now there is no permanent cure for lupus.
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that causes symptoms such as pain, rashes, fever, and organ damage. The condition is long lasting, and there is currently no known cure. People with lupus need long-term treatment to manage their symptoms.
However, people with lupus can have long symptom-free periods. Lupus doesn’t go away during these periods, but the signs and symptoms do.
How long these periods last, and how often they occur, is individual. The right medication and treatment plan can help them last longer.
Lupus is a chronic condition. Scientists have yet to develop a cure.
However, people with lupus can enter into long periods without symptoms. These periods are called remission. During remission, symptoms, including rashes, pain, and even the lupus markers in your blood, go away. But this doesn’t mean lupus is completely gone.
Not everyone with lupus goes into remission. For some people with lupus, symptoms are always present.
Most people still need to take medications during remission. However, it might be possible to take medication at lower doses.
Medication can help you stay in remission for longer. You and your doctor can work together to create the best treatment plan to help you stay symptom-free for as long as possible.
Some people are able to manage lupus with medications and can stay in remission for very long stretches. They might only have rare flare-ups of symptoms, and those flare-ups might be brief.
However, it’s not possible for lupus to go into permanent remission. Lupus is chronic. It’s always possible for symptoms to return.
Even if you’ve been in remission for years, it’s important to monitor yourself for symptoms and to talk with your doctor before you stop taking any medications.
Want to get involved?
While we’ve yet to discover a cure for lupus, research into the disease is ongoing. If you want to help scientists develop better treatments and find a cure, check out ClinicalTrials.gov to learn more.
Make sure to always talk with your doctor before beginning a clinical trial, especially if it would interfere with your current lupus treatment.
You can find out more about lupus remission by reading the answers to these common questions.
Can lupus go away after pregnancy?
Lupus does not go away after pregnancy. However, if you conceive during remission, it’s
Additionally, even if you were having active symptoms when you conceived, it’s rare for severe symptoms to occur during pregnancy.
Can lupus go away after menopause?
Hormonal levels can affect how people experience lupus. Menopause can sometimes ease lupus symptoms, but this isn’t universal. Even if symptoms are lessened and periods of remission are lengthened, lupus will not go away entirely.
Does lupus go away after a kidney transplant?
It’s common for people who have received a kidney transplant to see a reduction in their lupus symptoms. Many people see continual improvement for years after a transplant.
Additionally, many of the medications required after a kidney transplant can also help treat lupus.
For example, immunosuppressants can both help your body with your new kidney and can keep you in remission.
Does lupus go away with age?
No. Lupus is a chronic condition. Some people might see their symptoms lessen with age, but lupus doesn’t go away.
Can lupus be cured if caught early?
Lupus can’t be cured. There’s no current treatment that can resolve this condition, no matter how early it is diagnosed.
However, with medication, lupus can be well managed. Many people are able to have periods of remission and are able to control symptoms.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition that doesn’t currently have a cure. Treatments for lupus focus on managing symptoms.
However, people with lupus can enter into long symptom-free periods called remission. Lupus doesn’t go away during these periods, but symptoms and signs do. It’s important to continue taking your lupus medication during remission.
Your doctor can work with you to help create a treatment plan that can help you achieve longer lasting remission.