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A retrospective evaluation of the effect of hydroxyquinine on RPE thickness

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

To investigate a possible structural difference in the retina of hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)-treated patients as an explanation for the protective effect of this medication against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

In this retrospective study, we compared the mean thickness of the retinal outer band (consisting of the Bruch’s membrane and retinal pigment epithelium layer), as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), of 54 eyes of 27 hydroxychloroquine-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients (study group), 40 eyes of 20 healthy similar aged individuals (control group I), and 22 eyes of 11 non-hydroxychloroquine-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients (control group II).

Results

The mean thicknesses of the outer band of the retinal pigment epithelium layer was 60.4 ± 7.4, 43.3 ± 2.7, and 39.7 ± 3.6 μm for the study group, control group I, and control group II, respectively. P values for differences in mean thicknesses were < 0.0001 between the study group and each of the control groups, and 0.086 between the two control groups.

Conclusion

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine was associated with increased thickness of the outer band of the retinal pigment epithelium layer. This finding may explain the protective effect of hydroxychloroquine against age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel

    Joseph Pikkel & Otzem Chassid

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel

    Joseph Pikkel

  3. Research wing, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel

    Adi Sharabi-Nov

  4. Tel-Hai Academic College, Tel-Hai, Israel

    Adi Sharabi-Nov

  5. Department of Ophthalmology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

    Itchak Beiran

  6. The B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel

    Itchak Beiran

Authors
  1. Joseph Pikkel
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  2. Otzem Chassid
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  3. Adi Sharabi-Nov
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  4. Itchak Beiran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Otzem Chassid.

Additional information

None of the authors has a financial relationship with manufacturers of Plaquenil.

All funding for the conduct of this study came from the departments of the investigators.

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Pikkel, J., Chassid, O., Sharabi-Nov, A. et al. A retrospective evaluation of the effect of hydroxyquinine on RPE thickness. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 1687–1690 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2256-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2256-5

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