Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, can also be used in the regulation of the immune system, e.g. it is used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In this study we investigated the effects of chloroquine and its hydroxy-derivative on nitric oxide (NO) production in two different cell types: (i) immortalized mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 and (ii) mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (B...

OBJECTIVE To review 10 years' data relating to visual screening of patients taking hydroxychloroquine. METHODS Following baseline visual assessment, ophthalmic monitoring was carried out at six monthly intervals on 758 patients while on hydroxychloroquine. This consisted of corrected visual acuity, central field screening with a red Amsler grid, slit lamp examination, and retinoscopy. RESUL...

We report the case of a 28-year-old female treated for systemic lupus erythematosus with hydroxychloroquine (200 mg/day) for 11 years. She was visually asymptomatic, with normal fundus appearance, normal colour vision testing findings, 20/20 visual acuity in both eyes, and only mild central bilateral defects on 10-2 perimetry. Multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) showed low density values for...

OBJECTIVE To review the natural history and ocular and systemic adverse effects of patients taking hydroxychloroquine sulfate who attended an ophthalmic screening program. DESIGN Retrospective study. RESULTS Records of 262 patients who were taking hydroxychloroquine and screened in the Department of Ophthalmology were reviewed. Of the 262 patients, 14 (18%) of 76 who had stopped treatment a...

We present a case of a 67-year-old female who presented with a twelve-month history of progressive blurred vision in both eyes. The patient was on hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day for eight years for the treatment of scarring alopecia. Two years prior to presenting, the patient was found to have chronic kidney disease stage 3 secondary to hypertension. Examination revealed bilateral reduce...

Rheumatoid arthritis is chronic multisystem disease, failure rate with monotherapy is high. The present study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of triple combination of Methotrexate + Hydroxychloroquine + Sulfasalazine and double combination of Methotrexate + Hydroxychloroquine in patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. The present study was a prospective, randomized, single...

OBJECTIVES To compare different screening procedures for hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil) toxicity at different stages of damage. METHODS Ten patients were studied using 10-2 automated fields, multifocal electroretinography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and fundus autofluorescence. RESULTS All 10 patients used hydroxychloroquine for more than 6 years, and tho...

BACKGROUND Corticosteroid sparing is required in 15% to 40% of adults with persistent or chronic primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Herein, the efficacy of immunomodulatory drugs (dapsone, interferon alpha, danazol, and hydroxychloroquine as second-third-line therapies in ITP is investigated. METHODS MEDLINE was searched for studies that included patients with persistent or chroni...

Regarding the importance of COVID-19 pandemic and risks that the infection imposes on healthcare workers, this manuscript discusses the potential usage of Hydroxychloroquine as a prophylactic agent.