Summary
In a review of studies using appropriate methods for drug determinations and controlled intake, an interindividual variation in chloroquine concentrations of 2.3 to 5.6-fold was found. In our department, steady-state concentrations were evaluated in 40 patients with rheumatic diseases. The variation in whole blood concentrations was 11-fold for chloroquine and 10-fold for the desethylchloroquine metabolite. The mean ratio between desethylchloroquine and chloroquine concentrations was 0.53 and the Spearman-Rank correlation 0.92. The correlation between age and the ratio of chloroquine concentration/dose was 0.36 (P<0.05) and the corresponding correlation for body weight was −0.43 (P<0.05). Our data indicate that body weight and age are important independent factors for the disposition of chloroquine. However, when extensive 100-fold variations in concentrations are found between individuals we suggest that the reliability of the dose intake should be questioned.
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Hellgren, U., Alván, G. & Jerling, M. On the question of interindividual variations in chloroquine concentrations. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 45, 383–385 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265960
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265960