title: Hydroxychloroquine in steroid dependent asthma.
abstract: A recent case report suggested that hydroxychloroquine had a steroid sparing effect in a patient with severe chronic asthma. We have studied the effect of hydroxychloroquine in a group of nine steroid dependent adult asthmatic patients using a randomised double blind crossover comparison of hydroxychloroquine and placebo. Each patient received hydroxychloroquine (400 mg/day) or placebo for 2 month periods. The effect of hydroxychloroquine or placebo on asthma control was assessed by change in steroid dosage, visual analogue symptom scores, response to beta 2 agonist and peak expiratory flow rate (PFR) measurement. The dose of prednisolone required during hydroxychloroquine treatment did not differ from that during placebo treatment or in pre-trial period. There was no significant change in symptom scores of PFR measurement. In this study an 8 week treatment with hydroxychloroquine was of no benefit to patients with chronic steroid dependent asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunneberg
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D001507:Beclomethasone