Objective

To investigate the efficacy of bromocriptine in suppressing active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a therapeutic trial.

Methods

We conducted an open label investigation of bromocriptine treatment in 7 patients with active non-life threatening SLE. Patients received bromocriptine daily during the treatment phase of 6 to 9 months and were followed for 5 months after bromocriptine was discontinued. Disease activity was assessed by determination of the SLE activity Measure (SLAM) and the Toronto SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Serum prolactin concentrations and a battery of serologic and urine tests were obtained at baseline and at monthly intervals during and after bromocriptine treatment.

Results

Serum prolactin concentration was suppressed from (mean+/-SEM) 11.2 ng/ml+/-1.9 to 3.1 ng/ml+/-1.7 after 6 months of bromocriptine treatment. The mean pretreatment SLAM score was 11.3+/-0.9; 6 months of bromocriptine treatment significantly decreased the mean SLAM score to 6.0+/-1.6 (p= 0.03 compared to pretreatment measure). The mean SLEDAI score decreased from 16.0+/-2.0 to 5.9+/-0.8 (p= 0.02) during the same period. Bromocriptine treatment was associated with transient suppression of anti-dsDNA, and serum cholesterol was reduced significantly through the treatment period. After bromocriptine was discontinued, all patients had increased disease activity associated with rising serum prolactin concentrations.

Conclusion

These findings justify controlled trials to study the efficacy of bromocriptine in treating patients with active SLE.