title: A retrospective evaluation of the effect of hydroxyquinine on RPE thickness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate a possible structural difference in the retina of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)-treated patients as an explanation for the protective effect of this medication against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we compared the mean thickness of the retinal outer band (consisting of the Bruch's membrane and retinal pigment epithelium layer), as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), of 54 eyes of 27 hydroxychloroquine-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients (study group), 40 eyes of 20 healthy similar aged individuals (control group I), and 22 eyes of 11 non-hydroxychloroquine-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients (control group II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean thicknesses of the outer band of the retinal pigment epithelium layer was 60.4 ± 7.4, 43.3 ± 2.7, and 39.7 ± 3.6 μm for the study group, control group I, and control group II, respectively. P values for differences in mean thicknesses were < 0.0001 between the study group and each of the control groups, and 0.086 between the two control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with hydroxychloroquine was associated with increased thickness of the outer band of the retinal pigment epithelium layer. This finding may explain the protective effect of hydroxychloroquine against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel.
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Pikkel
authors: Otzem
authors: O
authors: Chassid
authors: Adi
authors: A
authors: Sharabi-Nov
authors: Itchak
authors: I
authors: Beiran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D016570:Bruch Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine