Effect of chloroquine on experimental melanin-protein-induced uveitis in Lewis rats.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of chloroquine on experimental recurrent autoimmune melanin-protein-induced uveitis in Lewis rats.


METHODS
Five Lewis rats were immunized with melanin to induce uveitis (group I); another six were immunized and treated with 5 mg/kg/day of chloroquine (group II). To reinduce uveitis, they received two booster injections of melanin. They were killed when uveitis was present after the last booster injection; every eye was evaluated by means of clinical and histopathological examination. A control group of four rats received the same chloroquine dose to evaluate retinal toxicity (group III).


RESULTS
Rats in group I showed more severe uveitis episodes than rats in group II. The second uveitis episode was more severe in group I than in group I. Rats in group III showed no clinical or histopathological abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
Chloroquine decreased the severity and duration of uveitis, and in two rats it prevented recurrences. Thus, chloroquine can be considered an effective treatment for chronic, recurrent experimental uveitis.
Quiroz-Mercado
H
H
Departement of Retina, Asociación para evitar la Ceguera en México, Hospital Dr. Luis Sánchez Bulnes, IAP, Vicente García Torres 46, Coyoacán 04030 Mexico, DF Mexico,
Cedillo-Ley
M
M
Rodriguez-Reyes
A
A
Cortez-Gonzalez
R
R
Arellanes-Garcia
L
L
Ortega-Larrocea
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D008543:Melanins; D002738:Chloroquine