Hydroxychloroquine use in the Baltimore Lupus Cohort: effects on lipids, glucose and thrombosis.

Hydroxychloroquine is used by 35% of SLE patients enrolled in the Baltimore Lupus Cohort. Eighty per cent of patients who took hydroxychloroquine at cohort entry remain on it six years later. In addition to its role for disease manifestations of lupus, hydroxychloroquine may be indicated for the prevention of disease or treatment-induced complications, including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, liver function test elevation and thrombosis.