Possible mechanisms of action of antimalarials in rheumatic disease.
Understanding of the mechanism of action of the antimalarials in rheumatoid arthritis remains limited in spite of knowledge of a wide range of potentially relevant effects at the cellular level. Among the difficulties with proposed mechanisms of action are a lack of specificity, doubt about demonstrable effects at appropriate concentrations and a failure to explain the slow onset of action. It is possible that pharmacokinetic factors, or the slow change in the underlying disease pathology, might account for the slow onset.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Australia.
D J
DJ
Cutler
D002477:Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D002738:Chloroquine