Children exposed to hydroxychloroquine in utero show no signs of retinal toxicity at age 5
Authors' conclusion
Cross-sectional OCT anatomy in HCQ-exposed children was normal at age 5 with no evidence of toxicity, providing further reassurance that HCQ use during pregnancy does not result in retinal toxicity in the offspring.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 5 from the PATCH study exposed to maternal hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), and matched healthy controls
- Participants
- 10 vs 16
- Exposure
- Children exposed in utero to maternal HCQ 400 mg daily vs matched healthy unexposed controls
- PATCHn = 10
- Controlsn = 16reference
- Outcome
- Retinal toxicity on OCT (cross-sectional anatomy; ETDRS regional retinal thickness)
- Follow-up
- Age 5
Methodological detailsmatched controls (gestational age at birth, sex, race/ethnicity), retinal specialist blinded to exposure history, Cord blood levels substantiated HCQ exposure
- Matched controls (gestational age at birth, sex, race/ethnicity)
- Retinal specialist blinded to exposure history
- Cord blood levels substantiated HCQ exposure
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall ETDRS retinal thickness (micrometres)
PATCH
288.92
± 13.77 · micrometres
Controls
297.70
averaging · ± 10.53 · micrometres
P = 0.18
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Children exposed to hydroxychloroquine in utero show no signs of retinal toxicity at age 5. Lupus Sci Med. Published 27 May 2026. doi:10.
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