Effects of antimalarials in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) graded according to the quality of evidence7
Quality of evidence | AM |
High: | |
Reduction of SLE activity (also in pregnancy) | CQ/HCQ |
Reduction of mortality | CQ/HCQ |
Moderate: | |
Increase in BMD | HCQ |
Protective effect on thrombotic events | CQ/HCQ |
Protective effect on irreversible organ damage | HCQ |
Low: | |
Reduction of severe flares | HCQ |
Adjuvant effect for achieving LN remission | HCQ |
Beneficial effect on serum lipid levels | CQ/HCQ |
Protective effect on osteonecrosis | HCQ |
Delaying the evolution to SLE | HCQ |
Protective effect on cancer | CQ/HCQ |
Very low: | |
Reduction of 1–25 (OH)2 vitamin D levels | HCQ |
Reduction of atherosclerosis | CQ/HCQ |
AM, antimalarial; BMD, bone mineral density; CQ, chloroquine; HCQ, hydroxychloroquine; LN, lupus nephritis.