Prospective study on the long-term ocular toxicity of hydroxychloroquine in rheumatic diseases / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

OMective In order to evaluate the long-term ocular safety of hydroxychloorqine,we prospectively study the ocular symptoms,routine ophthalmological screening tests and electrophysiological tests in patients taking hydroxychloroquine.Methotis 170 cases of autoimmune diseases patients who had taken hydroxychlon,qine during August,2005 to June,2007 were enrolled into the study.Visual acuity,intraocular pressure,and fundoscopy examination,visual field testing,electroretinogram (ERG) and electrooculogram (EOG) were examined every six months.Results The average duration of taking hydroxyehloroquine was 16.1 month,ranging from 0.5 to 48 months.The total dose ranged from 6 g to 584 g.All patients'visual acuity and intraocular pressure were normal.Fifty-two cases had performed ERG and EOG.The ERG tests were normal in 52 patients.The EOG test of 2 patients showed that the Arden ratio was lower than normal,in which one had severe myopia.Other tests done for these two persons were normal.Conclusion This observational study has shown that hydroxychloroquine has good ocular safety.Further studies with much longer follow-up period will be useful in evaluating the retinal toxicity of hydroxychloroquine.