Advances in Rheumatology (Jun 2020)

Revisiting hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine for patients with chronic immunity-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases

  • Edgard Torres dos Reis Neto,
  • Adriana Maria Kakehasi,
  • Marcelo de Medeiros Pinheiro,
  • Gilda Aparecida Ferreira,
  • Cláudia Diniz Lopes Marques,
  • Licia Maria Henrique da Mota,
  • Eduardo dos Santos Paiva,
  • Gecilmara Cristina Salviato Pileggi,
  • Emília Inoue Sato,
  • Ana Paula Monteiro Gomides Reis,
  • Ricardo Machado Xavier,
  • José Roberto Provenza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s42358-020-00134-8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 60, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, also known as antimalarial drugs, are widely used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and have recently become the focus of attention because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Rheumatologists have been using antimalarials to manage patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory rheumatic diseases for decades. It is an appropriate time to review their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory mechanisms impact on disease activity and survival of systemic lupus erythematosus patient, including antiplatelet effect, metabolic and lipid benefits. We also discuss possible adverse effects, adding a practical and comprehensive approach to monitoring rheumatic patients during treatment with these drugs.

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