Hydroxychloroquine reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal evaluation of the lipid-lowering effect.
The influence of antimalarials on lipids in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been identified in several studies but not in many prospective cohorts. The aim of this study was to longitudinally determine the effect of antimalarials on the lipoprotein profile in SLE.


METHODS
Fasting total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) plasma levels were determined at entry and after 3 months of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment in a longitudinal evaluation of 24 patients with SLE.


RESULTS
a significant decrease in TC (198 ± 33.7 vs. 183 ± 30.3 mg/dl, p = 0.023) and LDL levels (117 ± 31.3 vs. 101 ± 26.2 mg/dl, p = 0.023) were detected after the 3 months of HCQ therapy. The reduction of 7.6% in TC (p = 0.055) and 13.7% in LDL levels (p = 0.036) determined a significant decrease in the frequency of dyslipidemia (26% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.013) after HCQ therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This longitudinal study demonstrated the beneficial effect of antimalarials on lipids in SLE since this therapy induced a reduction of atherogenic lipoproteins.
Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes Sistémicas, Clínica Médica C, Prof. Dr. Juan Alonso Bao, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay. ecairoli@hc.edu.uy
E
E
Cairoli
M
M
Rebella
N
N
Danese
V
V
Garra
E F
EF
Borba
D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D000962:Antimalarials; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D002784:Cholesterol