Wr. Lange et al., NO EVIDENCE FOR CHLOROQUINE-ASSOCIATED RETINOPATHY AMONG MISSIONARIESON LONG-TERM MALARIA CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene, 51(4), 1994, pp. 389-392
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Tropical Medicine
Chloroquine continues to have a Limited role in the chemoprophylaxis a
gainst malaria. Although periodic ophthalmologic examinations are reco
mmended with weekly suppressive dosing, the occurrence of retinopathy
associated with this regimen is unproven. Surveillance of career missi
onaries was conducted to explore the association between total body bu
rden of chloroquine and the development of retinopathy. Five hundred e
ighty-eight missionaries, reflecting 6,250 person-years of chloroquine
exposure were surveyed; 53 persons reflecting 560 person-years exposu
re with a median cumulative chloroquine dose in excess of 300 g were e
xamined. Only one case of chloroquine-induced retinopathy was detected
. This occurred in a missionary who had inappropriately taken chloroqu
ine daily for at least six years as an anti-inflammatory agent for a c
onnective tissue disorder. We also observed that expatriates often ove
rused chloroquine because of apprehension about malaria and used the d
rug for unrelated conditions. Our results failed to demonstrate an ass
ociation between a weekly chloroquine dosing regimen and drug-induced
retinopathy.