Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Optimizing Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels and Long‐Term Hydroxychloroquine Intake Could Lower Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Prevent Polypharmacy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
Maintaining low long-term HCQ intake and very low HCQ blood levels increased ASCVD risk in patients with SLE.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (2019 ACR/EULAR criteria) taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), Wisconsin cohort, completing baseline and one-year follow-up visits
- Participants
- 248 adults
- Exposure
- HCQ exposure patterns and estimated 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk
- Outcome
- Estimated 10-year ASCVD risk (PREVENT calculator)
- Follow-up
- Baseline and one year
Methodological detailsmultivariable linear regression
- Multivariable linear regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Estimated 10-year ASCVD risk at baseline
Very low HCQ levels and low long-term intake
6.6%
mean
- Significantly higher ASCVD risk at baseline with very low HCQ levels and low long-term intake
- +2.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ASCVD risk at follow-up in those remaining in or transitioning into low-exposure categories · one year
- Highest ASCVD risk at follow-up
- 5.7%
Original publication
Optimizing Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels and Long‐Term Hydroxychloroquine Intake Could Lower Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Prevent Polypharmacy in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 3 August 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →