RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Desensitization to hydroxychloroquine--experience of 4 patients.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 814
OP 816
VO 33
IS 4
A1 Mates, Michal
A1 Zevin, Shoshana
A1 Breuer, Gabriel S
A1 Navon, Pnina
A1 Nesher, Gideon
YR 2006
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/4/814.abstract
AB Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial agent with immunomodulatory effects. It is widely used in rheumatologic diseases, and has a very high efficacy/toxicity ratio. It is particularly important in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since it reduces new organ involvement and disease flares, and relieves skin and joint symptoms. Some patients develop hypersensitivity rash in response to HCQ. In such patients the drug is withdrawn and replaced by another medication. All the alternative medications for rheumatological patients are significantly more toxic than HCQ. We describe our initial experience of HCQ slow oral desensitization. All 4 patients who were recruited completed the procedure successfully without significant difficulty. Our results suggest that HCQ slow oral desensitization is safe, effective, and easy to perform.