Current and Future Use of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine in Infectious, Immune, Neoplastic, and Neurological Diseases: A Mini-Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or primary data synthesis
PubMed 29737455 · doi:10.1007/s40261-018-0656-y
What was done
This mini-review summarized established and investigational repurposing applications of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine beyond malaria. The authors reviewed biological mechanisms, including antiproliferative, antimutagenic, antithrombotic, immunomodulating, and autophagy-inhibiting effects, and outlined their clinical relevance across infectious, rheumatologic, oncologic, and neurological conditions.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or study counts. It qualitatively notes established applications in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, HIV, Q fever, Whipple's disease, and fungal infections. It highlights antitumoral potential via autophagy inhibition in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and notes ongoing exploration for neurological conditions (neurosarcoidosis, CLIPPERS, and primary progressive multiple sclerosis). Good tolerability in pregnancy and non-serious gastrointestinal/cutaneous side effects were noted, alongside serious risks of retinal, neuromuscular, and cardiac toxicities.
Why it matters
This review outlines the broad pharmacological rationale for repurposing well-known antimalarial drugs into adjunct therapies for complex inflammatory, malignant, and neuroinflammatory disorders.
Limits
As a narrative mini-review, it provides no systematic search methodology, risk-of-bias assessments, primary data, or quantitative outcome metrics. Evidence for investigational indications relies on ongoing trials and mechanistic rationale rather than established trial efficacy reported in the text.
Cited by
- supports Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are antimalarial agents that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis due to their anti-inflammatory properties.