title: Macular sensitivity changes for detection of chloroquine toxicity in asymptomatic patient.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the efficacy of microperimetry (MP-1) in detecting early retinal toxicity as a result of chronic use of chloroquine and in monitoring the changes in macular sensitivity in an asymptomatic patient with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 bilaterally.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 60-year-old woman presented for routine ocular examination with a medical history of severe rheumatoid arthritis, for which she had been receiving 3 mg chloroquine (CQ) per kilogram for the past 17 years. The patient was asymptomatic with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 bilaterally.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microperimeter showed loss of sensitivity in the macular region with a dense scotoma within the central 12 degrees (2.80 +/- 4.7 dB right eye and 2.84 +/- 4.7 dB left eye). CQ treatment was discontinued and substituted by Plaquenil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chloroquine retinal toxicity can be recognized in a subclincal form by the presence of early changes in macular sensitivity, detected by MP-1.
authors.affiliation: St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Prescot Street, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angi
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Valldeperas
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Mario R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012607:Scotoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D002738:Chloroquine