Ef. Borba et E. Bonfa, Longterm beneficial effect of chloroquine diphosphate on lipoprotein profile in lupus patients with and without steroid therapy, J RHEUMATOL, 28(4), 2001, pp. 780-785
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.