RESEARCH - Retinopathy due to antimalarial drugs in patients with connective tissue disease: are they so innocent?

[Guest guest]

Int J Rheum Dis. 2010 Aug;13(3):e11-5.

Retinopathy due to antimalarial drugs in patients with connective

tissue diseases: are they so innocent? A single center retrospective

study.

Kobak S, Deveci H.

Departments of Rheumatology, Manisa Hospital, Manisa, Turkey.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Antimalarial medications are basal active drugs used for

the treatment of various rheumatological conditions. Their common

side-effects include eye damage.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the safety of antimalarial

medications used for rheumatological conditions and the incidence of

retinopathy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients with rheumatological

conditions, who were followed in our rheumatology clinics between 2005

and 2009 while under chloroquine (CQ) and/or hydroxychloroquine (HQ)

treatment were included in the study. Indirect ophthalmoscopic

examination with 90 dioptry lens, frontal segment examination and

macular visual area test were applied to all patients. Severity of

retinopathy was evaluated as mild initial defect in the macula, or

severe visual area loss.

RESULTS: Retinopathy findings were detected in 21 out of 85 patients

(24.7%). Of these patients, 12 had mild initial defects while nine had

severe visual area loss. Of 21 patients, eight were on HQ and 13 were

on CQ treatment. Of the patients seen with findings of retinopathy, 17

had comorbid hypertension (HT) and six had diabetes mellitus (DM).

Patients receiving CQ are under higher risk compared to those on HQ

treatment (P = 0.001). Patient age, disease duration, HT and DM

presence had no statistically significant effect on retinopathy

development (P = 0.144, P = 0.305, P = 0.258, P = 0.395,

respectively).

CONCLUSION: The incidence of retinopathy among patients using

antimalarial medications as observed in this study was relatively

high. Based on these results, it is essential to emphasize the

importance of close monitoring in patients receiving antimalarial

medications and evaluation of visual findings before treatment

initiation.

PMID: 20704603

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20704603

Not an MD