Yes, it can.

Ref

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9541091

Hydroxychloroquine is used for discoid and cutaneous manifestations of  systemic lupus.

Hydroxychloroquine is an anecdotal treatment with unknown mechanism. It has an evident effect in some connective tissue diseases like SLE skin manifestation not renal or other internal organs.

Thanks a lot for you Patompong, Abdul Khaleque, and Adil H.H. Bashir

Best regards 

Dear Dr. Isho,

I recommend you the following review of the efficacy of HCQ in patients with SLE (Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Jan;69(1):20-8). You could find the answer to your question.

Sincerely

Dr. G. Espinosa

Thanks a lot Gerard for your answer.Best regards.

It will reduce disease activity and flares and severity of flares. Attached is a review on its other beneficial effects.

Thanks a lot Swan for your answer.Best regards

Yes it can. In my practice I use HCQ/ or CQ in all patients with SLE, unless it is contraindicated.

Pay attention to the dose, it is individualized within the range 200-800 mg/day

hydroxychloroquin or HCQ has multifaceted role in SLE as well as other autoimmune disorders. in lupus, it is the treatment for dermal manifestations as well as photosensitivity at a small risk of hyperpigmentation. besides, it decreases the severity and frequency of renal manifestations and its flares. besides, it is good in APS associated with lupus decreasing thrombotic manifestations.

Chloroquin or HCQ is used for  the treatment of dermal manifestations and photosensitivity, as well as APS associated with lupus. It can reduce disease activity and flares and severity of SLE flares. 

I am absolutely agreed with Gerard and Swan. I have a good experience with this drug in SEL with all manifestations.

Thanks a lot  Aleksadra and Ljudmila for your answers. Best regards.

Thanks a lot  Ewa and Bijit for your answers. Best regards

HCQ can prevent progression of disease and lupus flare-ups. In the LUMINA cohort, it was also shown to be effective in preventing subsequent renal and even CNS disease. HCQ is an anticoagulant of sorts, and therefore, effective in APS; there are now ongoing research trials to answer this question more definitively. In my opinion, every patient with lupus, with or without APS should be receiving Plaquenil (HCQ). It is also cardioprotective, and it can prevent diabetes in patients with RA, lowering lipids and glycemia modestly. In summary, there are a lot of good attributes and properties about this drug,

Thanks a lot Emilio for your answer. Best regards

I absolutely agree, Dr. Gonzalez. Furthermore, if a lupus patient developes major organ involvement and you need to treat her with immunosuppressants and high dose glucocorticoids, do not forget to keep HCQ in the treatment.

I agree. Here, many non-rheumatolgists, for example, some nephrologists when they treat  lupus nephritis forget to continue the Plaquenil in these patients, and Plaquenil should be continued, as you point out,    

Thanks a lot José and Emilio for your answers. Best regards