Lupus erythematosus can be treated by administering therapeutic amounts of
5-androstene-3-ol-7,17-dione and metabolizable precursors thereof,
such as 5-androstene-3b-acetoxy-7,17-dione, which are readily metabolized
in vivo to 5-androstene-3-ol-7,17-dione but are not appreciably metabolizable
in vivo to androgens, estrogens or dehydroepiandrosterone. Such treatment can be
prophylactic, ameliorative or curative in nature.
