title: Hydroxychloroquine in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis and its safety in pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used to treat various rheumatic diseases. Many autoimmune diseases occur in women of child-bearing age who may become pregnant while on therapy, which raises concerns regarding the teratogenicity of HCQ and its effect on the outcome of the pregnancy. There is a lack of data regarding the safety of HCQ during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors attempt to identify relevant publications by searching MEDLINE, Cochrane database, Ovid-Currents Clinical Medicine, Ovid-Embase:Drugs and Pharmacology, EBSCO, Web of Science and SCOPUS using the search terms HCQ and/or pregnancy. A basis for the mechanism of action of HCQ is provided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCQ has been shown by numerous studies over the past 15 years to be efficacious in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. HCQ does not appear to be associated with any increased risk of congenital defects, spontaneous abortions, fetal death, prematurity or decreased numbers of live births in patients with autoimmune diseases. Therefore, in the author's opinion, HCQ is safe for the treatment of autoimmune diseases during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Munger Pavilion, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
authors.forename: Crispin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abarientos
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sperber
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.forename: Chun Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Julia Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine