Article
Toxic maculopathy: Comparing the risk-profiles of chloroquine-users with and without retinal damage
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Published: | June 15, 2011 |
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Outline
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Background: To compare the risk-profiles of chloroquine users with and without toxic retinal damage due to chloroquine.
Methods: A total of 35 patients with a history of or ongoing treatment with chloroquine were classified as affected (n=24) or not affected (n=11) by toxic retinal damage on the basis of documented findings. The following assumed risk factors were compared: Age, underlying disease, body weight, body mass index, daily dose (as well as relation to body weight and ideal weight), nicotine abuse, compromised excretory liver or renal function and the sum of risk factors according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Results: Most of the postulated risk factors were expectedly elevated in the affected group compared to the not affected. The most pronounced discrepancies were seen with age, body mass index and daily dose related to ideal weight.
Conclusions: Besides factors like patient age that can not be influenced other risk factors like dosage and body mass index are very well influenceable and play an important role in the development of the disease as well. These factors must be accounted for when prescribing the drug and when screening for toxicity.