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Hydroxychloroquine Levels in Lupus

Assessing associations with disease activity and flares

Publish date:: January 18, 2016

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and remission, higher serum hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) concentrations were associated with a trend showing fewer flares over time, according to a study of 276 patients with SLE who had been treated with HCQ for > 6 months. Researchers found:

HCQ levels correlated significantly with the prescribed dosage but not with body weight or renal function.

Prescribed HCQ dosage also correlated significantly with baseline disease activity (SLEDAI) score, indicating higher doses were used for more active manifestations.

After 32.5 months of observation, the mean summated SLEDAI score and the incidence of SLE flares was not statistically different among patients with different baseline HCQ levels.

A subgroup of 73 patients with serological and clinical remission and having therapeutic HCQ levels had a trend of lower disease activity and lower incidence of flares.

Citation: Chiu Mok C, Penn HJ, Li Chan K, Mei Tse S, Langman LJ, Jannetto PJ. Hydroxychloroquine serum concentrations and flares of systemic lupus erythematosus: A longitudinal cohort analysis. [Published online ahead of print January 8, 2016]. Arthritis Care Res. doi: 10.1002/acr.22837.

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