Hydroxychloroquine in systemic and autoimmune diseases: Where are we now?

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), one of the oldest drugs used in rheumatology, came recently into attention as one of the potential therapies tested for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 disease treatment. Used initially as an antimalarial, then translated to rheumatic diseases, HCQ has been used in a wide range of pathologies, including infectious diseases, immune disorders, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or neoplasia. Regarding systemic diseases, HCQ is the mainstay treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where, according to last European guidelines, it is proposed to all SLE patients unless contraindicated or with side effects. HCQ proved positive impact in SLE on robust outcomes, such as accrual damage, disease activity and survival, but also pleiomorphic effects, including decrease in the need for glucocorticoids, reduction in the risk of neonatal lupus, lower fasting glucose and protection against diabetes, thrombotic risk, dyslipidemia, infections, etc. Moreover, HCQ can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Besides SLE, the role for HCQ in the anti-phospholipid syndrome and Sjogren's disease is still under debate. On the contrary, recent advances showed only limited interest for rheumatoid arthritis, especially due the lack of structural damage prevention. There are still no strong data to sustain the HCQ use in other systemic diseases. In this review, we summarised the utility and efficacy of HCQ in different clinical conditions relevant for rheumatology practice. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of Societe franc , aise de rhumatologie.

Automated summary

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been used as an antimalarial and rheumatic drug, and is now being tested as a potential therapy for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 disease. It has shown positive effects in systemic lupus erythematosus, but its role in other systemic diseases is still under debate. Limited interest has been shown in rheumatoid arthritis due to lack of evidence for structural damage prevention.