Multiple Benefic Effects of the Systemic Exposure to the Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate

In the twentieth century, the widespread use of quinacrine by the U.S. military as malaria prophylaxis was accompanied by other observations suggesting efficacy for treatment of rheumatologic diseases [1].
During the 1950s, the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) derivative of quinacrine showed a favorable usage profile with less eye toxicity than chloroquine itself, and the use of this agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has become common. In RA, HCQ is usually a component of a drug combination, including triple drug therapy with methotrexate and sulfasalazine, a formula which was claimed as a safe alternative, well tolerated compared to expensive biological therapies [2].