Longterm beneficial effect of chloroquine diphosphate on lipoprotein profile in lupus patients with and without steroid therapy

Objective. To investigate the influence of chloroquine diphosphate (CDP) al one and in combination with corticosteroids on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) lipoproteins. Methods. Fasting lipid profiles were performed in 60 consecutive female pat ients with SLE and in 30 controls. All SLE patients had minor disease activ ity and were divided according to current therapy in 4 groups: No therapy: prednisone (Pred group; < 15 mg prednisone daily); CDP (250 mg daily); and Pred + CDP. Results. There were no significant differences of age, race, and disease du ration among SLE groups. All patients had SLEDAI scores <less than or equal to>4 and prednisone dose was similar in the 2 groups taking this drug. The CDP group had significantly higher levels of high density lipoprotein chol esterol (HDL-c) levels compared to No therapy group (p < 0.05). which were similar to those detected in healthy controls. In addition, higher levels o f HDL-c and lower levels of triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (VLDL-c) were detected in Pred + CDP compared to Pred (p < 0.05). Conclusion. CDP alone or added to corticosteroid therapy has a beneficial e ffect in SLE dyslipoproteinemia, particularly in increasing HDL-c levels. A dditionally, this drug seems to revert the increased hepatic synthesis of l ipoproteins induced by corticosteroids as suggested by the concomitant decr ease of triglycerides and VLDL-c levels in SLE patients taking the combined regimen.