Modulation of hormones in the treatment of lupus.

The etiologic enigma of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has so far precluded a fully integrated approach to understanding and managing the disease. As new findings continue to uncover relationships between the endocrine system and the besieged immune system in lupus patients, however, researchers have an opportunity to rethink the direction of their investigative efforts. A successful approach to development of long-awaited new treatments may well include modulation of specific hormones. The peptide hormone prolactin may be associated with SLE disease activity. The dopamine agonist bromocriptine, which inhibits pituitary secretion of prolactin, has been shown in a variety of small animal and human trials to reduce disease activity in SLE. Continued research may show that it can be an attractive alternative or adjacent therapy in cases where hydroxychloroquine is contraindicated.