Effective treatment of high blood pressure is an important measure in preventing heart attacks and strokes, which occur more commonly in people with lupus. In addition, high blood pressure can accelerate kidney failure in individuals with lupus kidney disease. There are effective medications that lower blood pressure that should be used in patients with lupus who have high blood pressure. These medications do not have adverse effects on lupus activity or immune function. The exception is hydralazine, which has been shown to induce activation of T cells and is known to cause drug-induced lupus.