Autoimmune disease therapy in a patient treated with apoptosis-inducing agents is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The combination most likely enhances an autoimmune disease cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. In alternative embodiments, sphingomyelin may be administered alone, in combination with corticosteroids, and/or in combination with a apoptosis-inducing agent.