Does chloroquine treat lupus?

Does chloroquine treat lupus?

Most physicians with experience in lupus agree that antimalarial treatments such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), chloroquine (Aralen) or quinicrine (Atabrine) should be used long-term, year-after-year, in all lupus patients who can tolerate them.

What is the mechanism of action of hydroxychloroquine in lupus?

An important mode of action of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is the interference of lysosomal activity and autophagy. It is widely accepted that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine accumulate in lysosomes (lysosomotropism) and inhibit their function.

Why is hydroxychloroquine used for lupus?

Most people with lupus take hydroxychloroquine throughout their lives. It helps control lupus symptoms with very few side effects. Hydroxychloroquine may also help prevent blood clots and organ damage from lupus. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to start working.

Why does hydroxychloroquine work for lupus?

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an alkalinizing lysosomatropic drug that accumulates in lysosomes where it inhibits some important functions by increasing the pH. HCQ has proved to be effective in a number of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Does chloroquine reduce inflammation?

These studies indicate that the anti-malarial drug chloroquine significantly inhibits the systemic release of both early (TNF) and late (HMGB1) cytokines, which are known to mediate the lethality of sepsis and systemic inflammation in human patients.

What are the long term effects of taking hydroxychloroquine?

Long-term use and high doses of hydroxychloroquine are risk factors for the development of cardiomyopathy. Cardiac failure, conduction disorders (including QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes) and sudden cardiac death are consequences of the cardiomyopathy.

Why do lupus patients take hydroxychloroquine?

Most people with lupus take hydroxychloroquine throughout their lives. It helps control lupus symptoms with very few side effects. Hydroxychloroquine may also help prevent blood clots and organ damage from lupus.

¿Cómo usar la cloroquina en pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas?

La cloroquina se debe usar con precaución en pacientes con enfermedades neurológicas debido a que puede desarrollarse polineuritis, ototoxicidad, neuromiopatía y convulsiones. La cloroquina puede exacerbar una porfiria o una deficiencia de la glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasa.

¿Qué es el mecanismo de acción cloroquina?

Mecanismo de acción Cloroquina La acción antipalúdica se atribuye a su fijación a porfirinas dando lugar a la destrucción o inhibición de formas asexuadas de plasmodios no resistentes en eritrocitos; asimismo, interfiere en el desarrollo de formas sexuadas de P. ovale, vivax, malariae y formas inmaduras de P. falciparum.

¿Qué pueden producir los tratamientos prolongados con cloroquina?

En los tratamientos prolongados con cloroquina pueden producirse alteraciones visuales caracterizadas por visión borrosa, dificultad en enfocar, depósitos corneales, manchas pigmentadas en la retina que pueden ocasionar ceguera, atrofia del nervio óptico y lesiones maculares.

¿Cuáles son los síntomas de la cloroquina?

Puede haber efectos secundarios por la cloroquina. Informe a su médico si cualquiera de estos síntomas es grave o no desaparece: dolor de cabeza; náusea; pérdida de apetito; diarrea; molestias estomacales; dolor de estómago; sarpullido; picazón; pérdida del cabello; Si experimenta alguno de los síntomas siguientes, llame a su médico de inmediato: