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Abstract
Six cases of toxic myopathy and/or neuropathy with chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine
therapy are described. Two patients had unique clinical and pathologic evidence of
cardiomyopathy secondary to chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine therapy. One patient
had polyneuropathy secondary to chloroquine toxicity. This may be the first documentation
of several features of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine toxicity: (1) morphologic changes
in human peripheral nerve in chloroquine toxicity; (2) chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine
cardiomyopathy diagnosed by endomyocardial biopsy; and (3) hydroxychloroquine myotoxicity.
Chloroquine is a neuromyotoxin that affects nerves and cardiac and skeletal muscles.
Discontinuation of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine resulted in marked improvement
in most cases. The reversibility of the symptoms emphasizes the importance of recognizing
potential signs of nerve, muscle, and cardiac toxicity in patients being treated with
chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
September 18,
1986
Received:
July 11,
1986
Identification
Copyright
© 1987 Published by Elsevier Inc.
