Ruiz-Irastorza G, Ramos-Casals M, Brito-Zerón P et al.
University of the Basque Country, Bizkaia, Spain.
Ann Rheum Dis 2010;69:20–8.
Editor’s note: One of the most prescribed family of drugs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are the antimalarials (AMs), which include chloro-quine and hydroxychloroquine. Current European League Against Rheumatism recommendations advise the use of AMs in SLE patients with non-major organ involvement (
Ann Rheum Dis 2008;67:195–205); thus, AMs are often discontinued in SLE patients with severe disease. However, AMs have demonstrated a prominent beneficial effect on the long-term course of SLE. With this background, the authors of this study analyzed published evidence of the benefits and adverse events of AM therapy in patients with SLE.