The Treatment of Acute Rheumatic Fever: Novel Use of Hydroxychloroquine.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) suppresses an interleukin-1ß-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor cytokine axis, reported to be dysregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of acute rheumatic fever patients ex vivo. We describe HCQ treatment for 2 patients with rheumatic carditis and a protracted inflammatory course. HCQ was associated with control of inflammatory markers, control of pericarditis in first patient and stabilization of progressive carditis in the second patient.