title: Sensitivity to UV light during treatment with chloroquine in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have long been suspected of causing light sensitivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To gain insight into the effect of chloroquines and ultraviolet (UV) light in RA we have phototested 25 RA patients with and without chloroquine. The thresholds for UVA and UVB did not change upon treatment with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Provocation with high dose UVA and UVB was similar with and without treatment with chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. Our results have shown that photosensitivity during medication with chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is uncommon and that there is no need to stop this treatment due to sun exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seideman
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D002738:Chloroquine