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Review
. 2012 Apr;42(2):145-53.
doi: 10.1007/s12016-010-8243-x.

Hydroxychloroquine: from malaria to autoimmunity

Ilan Ben-Zvi  1 , Shaye Kivity, Pnina Langevitz, Yehuda Shoenfeld
Affiliations
Review

Hydroxychloroquine: from malaria to autoimmunity

Ilan Ben-Zvi et al. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2012 Apr.

Abstract

Quinine was first recognized as a potent antimalarial agent hundreds of years ago. Since then, the beneficial effects of quinine and its more advanced synthetic forms, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have been increasingly recognized in a myriad of other diseases in addition to malaria. In recent years, antimalarials were shown to have various immunomodulatory effects, and currently have an established role in the management of rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, skin diseases, and in the treatment of chronic Q fever. Lately, additional metabolic, cardiovascular, antithrombotic, and antineoplastic effects of antimalarials were shown. In this review, we discuss the known various immunomodulatory mechanisms of antimalarials and the current evidence for their beneficial effects in various diseases and in potential novel applications.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The various inhibitory and immunomodulatory effects of HCQ are schematically drawn. PLA2 phospholipase A2, IL interleukin, TLR toll like receptor, UV ultraviolet
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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