Impact of cumulative dose of hydroxychloroquine on retinal structures

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 Aug 19. doi: 10.1007/s00417-024-06602-x. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

What is known • Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is widely used for autoimmune disorders but is associated with the risk of retinal toxicity. • Early detection of retinal structural changes due to HCQ toxicity remains challenging, and cumulative HCQ dose as a risk factor has conflicting clinical relevance. What Is New • Higher cumulative HCQ doses are significantly associated with thinner outer retinal layers (foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal regions). • No significant associations were found between HCQ cumulative dose and inner retinal thickness or age.

Keywords: Biomarker; Cumulative dose; Hydroxychloroquine; Optical coherence tomography; Retinopathy.