Glucocorticoids. Systemic glucocorticoids used alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents are typically reserved for patients with significant organ involvement, particularly renal or CNS.35High doses (40 to 60 mg/d of prednisone or prednisone equivalent) are used in patients with severe SLE, while doses of 10 mg/d or less are used for milder SLE for treatment of cutaneous and musculoskeletal symptoms not responding to other therapies.