Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Risk of flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in remission after hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine withdrawal
Main finding · Flare (SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index)Result — go to the resultOdds ratio 3.1 95% CI 1.2–8.2Authors' conclusion
Withdrawal of HCQ or CQ in patients with SLE in remission is associated with a 3-fold increased risk of relapse.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE in remission for at least one year according to the DORIS classification
- Participants
- 48 vs 96
- Comparison
- Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)/chloroquine (CQ) withdrawal for antimalarial retinopathy vs continued antimalarial treatment
- HCQ/CQ withdrawaln = 48
- Maintenancen = 96reference
- Outcome
- Proportion of patients with a flare according to the SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index
- Follow-up
- 36 months
Methodological detailsmatched (1:2) for sex, antimalarial treatment duration and age at SLE diagnosis
- Matched (1:2) for sex, antimalarial treatment duration and age at SLE diagnosis
Main finding
Flare (SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index)
Odds ratio
3.1
95% CI 1.2–8.2
P = 0.01
Events by group
HCQ/CQ withdrawalvs Maintenance
OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.2–8.2); P = 0.01
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HCQ/CQ withdrawal | Maintenance | Estimate | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe SLE flare | 25.0% | 11.5% | OR 2.5 (95% CI 0.9–6.9) | P = 0.053 | |
| Time to first flare | HR 6.3 (CI 2.0–19.9) | P < 0.005 | |||
| 0.050.21520Ratio (log scale) |
Elevated serum anti-dsDNA as risk factor for flare after HCQ/CQ discontinuation
- HR (elevated anti-dsDNA)
- 5.4 [1.5-18.7], P<0.01
Original publication
Risk of flare in patients with SLE in remission after hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine withdrawal. Joint Bone Spine. Published 2 July 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →