BACKGROUND Bradycardic agents are of interest for the treatment of ischemic heart disease and heart failure, as heart rate is an important determinant of myocardial oxygen consumption. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the propensity of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to cause bradycardia. METHODS We assessed the effects of HCQ on (1) cardiac beating rate in vitro (mice); (2)...

BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a decrease in insulin sensitivity (IS), which has been identified as an independent risk factor for the development of early atherosclerosis. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may have beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and lipid profile. AIM To assess the effect of HCQ on IS and lipid profile in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS An...

OBJECTIVES The diagnostic diversity of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) can easily be obscured by the widespread use of corticosteroids (CSs) early in the disease course. This study observed the course of PMR without CSs and determined whether alternative medication could be useful. METHODS Seventy patients with new-onset PMR comprised phase 1. Eight were removed with specific diagnoses (four wit...

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a commonly used medication for its immunosuppressive and dermatologic effects. It has known ocular side effects, which include retinopathy, corneal deposits, choroidal thinning. Herein, we report the first case of HCQ-induced hyperpigmentation sclera. A 75-year-old female presented after 10 months gradual progression painless blue-gray discoloration bilateral sclera,...

The use of polymeric devices for controlled sustained delivery of drugs is a promising approach for the prevention of HIV-1 infection. Unfortunately, certain microbicides, when topically applied vaginally, may be cytotoxic to vaginal epithelial cells and the protective microflora present within the female genital tract. In this study, we evaluated the impact of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-loaded, ...

INTRODUCTION Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) constitutively express two members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, TLR-9 and TLR-7, through which they can be stimulated to produce high levels of interferon (IFN)-α, a key mediator of the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given the known efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the treatment of SLE, we examined its abili...

OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical details and follow up of children with idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis. DESIGN Retrospective case series. SETTING Pediatric chest clinic of a tertiary care hospital. SUBJECTS Children diagnosed as suffering from idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH). METHODS Charts of patients diagnosed as IPH were reviewed for clinical features and treatment re...

PURPOSE To evaluate early changes in multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and subclinical aqueous humor flare and cellularity in patients receiving hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS Ten patients receiving treatment with HCQ and no ophthalmic symptoms were enrolled. After complete ocular examination, mfERG and laser flare-cell photometry were performed. Pa...

BACKGROUND Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with defective innate immunity, including impaired neutrophil chemotaxis, and mucosal invasion by bacteria, particularly adherent and invasive Escherichia coli that replicate inside macrophage phagolysosomes. We compared CD and healthy control (HC) macrophages for their abilities to kill E. coli and generate neutrophil chemoattractants and also asse...